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THE  CRUISE  OF  A  WOMAN  HATER. 


THE 


Cruise  of  a  Woman  Hater 


BY 


G.  DE  MONTAUBAN 


FIFTH  EDITIOJf 


BOSTON 

TICKNOR    AND     COMPANY 
2U  SCtemont  Street 


PS 

l76/f 

C7 

mi 


/^'. 


Copyright,  1887, 
By  Ticknor  and  Company. 

Al/  Rights  Reserved. 


* 


mzts  or 

J30S10N. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEB  ■  PAOS 

L  Ak  Unexpected  Passenoeb 11 

IL  Anotheb  Unexpected  Passengeb     .    •  26 

in.  Mb.  Jebves  Will  Not  Be  Imposed  Upon,    39 

IV.  Mb,  Jebves*  s  Views  on  Matbimony  .    •  51 

V.  Mbs.  Bates  Apologizes 72 

VL  The  Pebils  of  the  Sea 84 

VIL  The  Bbuna 96 

VIII.  Tbade  Winds 118 

IX  Jack ;  >  |»  i  >    r  ^    .    .  137 

X  Round  Cape  Hobn     .    .    •    .    .    •    •    •  146 

XI.  Helpless    .    •    •    • 168 

XIL  Honolulu 177 

XTIT.  Mb.  Colobado*8  Views,  and  How  They 

Webe  Received  .    .    .  ^^  ,^    .    .    .  194 

XrV.  Mbs.  Bates  Tells  All  About  It  .    .    .  208 

XV.  News  fbom  Home .  222 

XVI.  Light 235 

XVII.  A  Pboposal 243 

XVIII.  Fabewell  to  the  Ajax     ••....  255 

XIX.  Redbank 263 


9 


■I 


'4 


•> 

3 


I 


Oh  one  of  my  voyages  from  London  to 
Australia  in  one  of  Green's  Line  of  pack- 
ets, we  had  on  board  a  number  of  profes- 
sional people,  some  of  whom  told  or  read 
stories  for  the  entertainment  of  their 
fellow-passengers. 

The  American  clergyman's  story  was 
entitled,  — 


THE 


CEFISE  OF  A  WOMAN  HATER. 


CHAPTER  I. 


AN   UNEXPECTED   PASSENGER. 

On  the  16th  November,  187-,  the  ship 
Ajax  was  lying  in  New  York  harbor  ready 
for  sea  on  a  voyage  from  New  York  for 
Honolulu  and  Hong  Kong.  The  Ajox  was 
originally  built  for  a  steamer,  but  her  en- 
gines, not  proving  satisfactory,  had  been 
taken  out,  and  the  hull  sold  to  her  present 
captain,  by  whom  she  was  converted  into  a 
four-masted  sailing  ship.  The  captain, 
having  sold  her  to  an  English  firm,  who 
stipulated  that  she  should  be  delivered  at 
Hong  Kong,  was  on  this  16th  November 

ready  to  sail  for  that  port,  taking  his  wife 

11 


12  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

and  two  children  with  him,  intending  to 
return  via  San  Francisco. 

I  knew  Captain  Bluson  very  well,  for  we 
had  been  chums  together  at  college.  A 
nice  fellow  he  was  then,  and  a  nice  fellow 
he  is  to  this  day.  He  retired  from  the  sea 
some  few  years  ago,  and  in  the  intervals  of 
business  amuses  himseli  in  su  laer  among 
his  strawberries  and  grape-vines,  and  in  win- 
ter with  solving  mathematical  puzzles  that 
make  my  head  swim.  If  his  sight  had  not 
failed  in  his  youth,  the  world  might  have 
known  another  astronomer;  but  for  the 
good  of  ills  eyes  his  father,  himself  I  ^ing  a 
shipmaster,  sent  him  to  sea. 

Wishing  his  son  to  know  seamanship  and 
sea  life  from  the  very  bottom,  he  sent  him 
before  the  mast.  Tlie  young  seaman  took 
kindly  to  the  profession,  going  first  as  a 
green  hand  to  Calcutta,  and  after  a  couple 
of  years,  and  having  from  there  made  some 
shorter  voyages,  coming  home  second  mate ; 
three  years  later  he  was  master. 


AN  UNEXPECTED  PASSENGEB. 


13 


At  thirty-eight,  having  made  several 
successful  voyages,  he  had  married  my 
cousin  Carrie,  and  was  father  of  two  as 
fine  boys  as  could  be  found.  Having  no 
further  need  to  go  to  sea,  he  proposed  to 
make  this  last  voyage  as  much  a  pleasure 
excursion  as  he  could,  and,  having  an  un- 
usually fino  ship,  he  invited  his  whole 
family  to  join  him.  His  wife,  having 
sailed  with  him  before,  was  nothing  loath, 
and  the  boys  would  have  followed  their 
father  to  the  North  Pole,  if  they  once 
heard  him  say,  "Come,  boys;  come 
along." 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  the 
wife  and  children  were  on  board,  bus^.  ing 
themselves  in  putting  things  to  rights  for 
the  voyage,  and  waiting  only  the  arrival  ol 
the  captain  to  set  sail. 

He  meantime  had  gone  to  Boston  on  bus- 
iness connected  with  the  ship.  Returning 
on  the  Fall  River  steamer,  he  met  an  old 
school  acquaintance,  named  Bernard  Jerves. 


14  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATEB. 

After  talking  over  old  times,  and  rehears- 
ing old  scenes,  and  inquiring  for  old  ac- 
quaintance, their  talk  ran  to  present  pros- 
pects and  intentions. 

Jerves  was  the  only  son  of  a  rich  father, 
and  at  school  and  college  had  not  been  one 
of  the  model  boys.  Without  being  vicious, 
he  was  averse  to  study  and  full  of  mischief. 
If  there  was  a  scrape  A  any  kind  about,  he 
was  sure  to  be  in  it ;  and,  though  he  was  a 
good  batsman  and  stroke  oar  of  the  college 
boat,  and  the  best  tenor  in  the  glee  club, 
and  hail-fellow-well-met  with  more  men 
than  any  other  in  the  college,  he  barely 
took  his  degree,  and  was  himself  rather 
surprised  that  lie  got  it  at  all. 

Not  knowing  just  what  to  do  with  him, 
his  father  sent  him  to  Colorado  to  look 
after  some  mining  properties.  This  he  did 
for  a  couple  of  years  very  well,  but  the 
mountain  fever  took  hold  of  him,  and  he 
came  back  invalided. 

When  he  recovered,  having  little  else  to 


AN  UNEXPECTED  PASSEN^  y.B.  16 

do,  he  fell  in  love  with  a  girl  who  had  not 
a  single  quality  but  good  looks  to  recom- 
mend her.  These,  it  is  true,  she  had  liber- 
ally. To  describe  her  character  would 
require  the  pen  of  DeMusset  or  some  other 
of  the  modern  French  writers,  who  know 
more  about  women  than  Methuselah  or 
King  Solomon.  But  Jerves  had  eyes  only 
for  her  beauty,  although  her  vanity  and 
conceit  and  weak  but  perverse  stupidity 
were  evident  enough  to  almost  every  one 
else.  She  liked  Jerves's  riches,  and  freely 
displayed  the  elegant  presents  he  was  as 
ready  to  make  as  she  to  accept.  But  it 
was  not  in  his  disposition  to  be  in  other 
respects  a  very  ardent  lover,  and  few  except 
himself  were  much  surprised  when  a  week 
before  the  day  fixed  for  the  wedding  she 
ran  away  with  a  middle-aged  rot^,  who 
knew  how  to  take  advantage  of  her  weak- 
nesses. 

Whatever  Jerves  felt  he  kept  to  himself, 
and  merely  spent  two  years  in  Europe  — 


16  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  UATEB. 

the  usual  resort  for  such  cases.  During  his 
wanderings  there  he  fell  in  with  a  very 
charming  and  sympathetic  young  widow.  So 
sympathetic  t\  s  she,  indeed,  that  it  was 
not  long  before  Jer\  es  had  made  her  the 
confidante  oi  his  whole  story.  So  charming 
did  he  find  her,  and  so  much  pleasure  did 
he  take  in  her  society,  that  he  asked  her  to 
marry  him,  and  was  accepted.  There  were 
some  things  about  the  widow  that  Jerves 
could  not  quite  understand,  but  she  was  so 
fascinating,  and  he  so  blind  by  nature  as 
regards  women,  that  they  troubled  him 
but  little.  The  wedding  was  to  take  place 
at  a  small  out-of-the-way  village  in  Ger- 
many, after  which  a  year  or  more  was  to 
be  spent  in  travel  in  Egypt.  Suddenly, 
one  morning,  appeared  a  short,  thick-set, 
heavily-bearded  man,  direct,  as  he  said, 
from  the  sheep-farms  of  Australia,  who 
claimed  the  sympathetic  and  fascinating 
soi-disante  young  widow  as  his  wife,  and 
demanded  heavy  damages  from  Jerves  for 


AN  UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER. 


17 


having  alienated  her  affections.  There 
were  a  good  many  high  words,  and  tears, 
and  protestations,  and  some  threats,  but 
Jerves  at  last  found  his  senses,  and  the 
sheep  farmer  and  his  wife  were  quite  con- 
tent to  accept  second-class  tickets  for  Aus- 
tralia in  full  liquidation.  Whether  they 
ever  reached  there  or  not  Jerves  never 
knew.  He  went  to  Egypt  and  up  the  Nile 
alone,  but,  returning  to  Cairo,  har*  a  fresh 
attack  of  fever,  from  which  he  recovered  at 
length,  but  soured  and  somewhat  prema- 
turely aged,  and  embittered  against  all 
\iromen,  and  firmly  resolved  to  have  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with  them.  In  this  condi- 
tion he  returned  home,  and  shortly  after 
his  father  died. 

A  rich  and  idle  man,  without  ambition, 
he  drifted  aimlessly  about,  living  mostly 
alone>  at  hotels  and  clubs.  He  became  a 
thorough  gourmet^  a  first-class  whist-player, 
and  a  sufficiently  ignorant  patron  of  the 
fine  arts,  in  which  latter  capacity  he  was 


i 


18  CBUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

the  delight  and  the  victim  of  no  small 
amount  of  unrecognized  and  unappreciated 
talent.  He  tried  painting  for  a  while,  but, 
though  he  had  a  good  eye  for  the  pictur- 
esque, and  could  draw  moderately  well,  he 
had  no  sense  of  color,  and  his  pictures 
pleased  only  himself,  and  that  not  long. 
From  painting  he  turned  to  photography, 
in  which  he  was  quite  successful.  Having 
provided  himself  with  an  expensive  appa- 
ratus and  no  end  of  books  and  chemical!, 
he  studied  and  practised  the  art  until  he 
really  became  quite  proficient.  He  mostly 
disdained  the  use  of  dry  plates  —  which 
were  only  just  then  coming  into  use,  and 
not  as  perfect  as  they  now  are  —  and  the 
professional  printer,  as  savoring  of  laziness, 
of  which,  when  called  by  its  right  name,  he 
had  a  great  abhorrence.  About  this  time 
a  desire  for  change  came  over  him,  and, 
after  long  consideration,  he  resolved  to 
seek  out  some  comparatively  unknown 
country,  where  he  could  combine  travel  and 


-1 


AN  UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER.  19 

adventure  with  sketcLIng  and  photography, 
and  about  which  he  would  write  a  book 
that  he  would  illustrate.  So  he  packed  up 
his  paints,  brushes,  instruments,  and  chem- 
icals, provided  himself  with  guns  and  fish- 
ing tackle,  clothing,  tents,  boots,  and  blan- 
kets, and  started  off,  bound  for  Alaska. 

When  Captain  Bluson  met  him  on  board 
the  steamer,  it  was  not  very  difficult  to 
induce  him  to  change  his  destination  to 
China.  The  ship  was  good,  the  season 
favorable ;  there  was  plenty  of  room ;  they 
had  been  disappointed  of  another  passenger, 
and  except  the  captain's  wife  and  the 
stewardess  there  would  be  no  women.  In 
fact,  there  was  no  reason  why  he  should 
not  go,  and,  for  a  man  with  plenty  of  time 
on  his  hands,  the  long  voyage  was  an  at- 
traction. 

So  the  invitation  was  soon  accepted, 
and,  on  arrival  at  New  York,  he  hailed  a 
boat  and  sent  his  numerous  boxes  and 
packages  on  board  the  Ajax.     The  captain 


20  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

assured  him  he  would  find  plenty  of  sup- 
plies on  board,  but  Jerves  liked  to  live  well 
when  he  could,  and  when,  an  hour  after- 
wards, he  met  the  captain  at  the  tug  that 
was  to  take  them  on  board,  he  brought 
with  him  a  dray-load  of  fresh  and  canned 
fruits  and  delicacies  that  gave  the  poor 
steward  and  stewardess  no  end  of  trouble. 

All  was  ready  at  last,  and  it  was  still 
early  in  the  day  when  two  powerful  tugs 
took  the  Ajax  in  tow,  and,  with  a  fresh, 
chilly  north-west  wind  blowing,  she  pro- 
ceeded down  the  KarTbor,  her  flags  flying, 
sails  ready  to  be  loosed,  and  saluted  by  the 
whistles  of  numberless  small  crafts,  whose 
masters  recognized  the  Ajax  and  her  well 
known  commander. 

Having  greeted  the  captain's  wife  and 
charming  children,  who  were  delighted  at 
having  an  unexpected  passenger,  Jerves 
retired  to  his  cabin  to  change  his  shore 
clothing  for  some  he  thought  more  suitable 
for  the  sea,  as  well  as  more  comfortable. 


AN  UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER. 


21 


and  to  make  everything  snug,  as  became  an 
experienced  traveller.  Tn  saloon  of  the 
Ajax  was  large  and  pleasant,  nnd  the  state- 
rooms or  cabins  opening  out  of  it  Tv:ere 
more  numerous  than  is  now  usual  when 
sailing  ships  are  not  generally  expected  to 
carry  passengers.  Jerves  appropriated  two 
of  them,  one  for  his  personal  use,  and  one 
for  his  photographic  instruments,  his  paint- 
ing and  sketching  materials,  his  books  and 
papers,  and  the  desk  on  which  he  already 
designed  to  write  out  a  detailed  log  and 
history  of  the  voyage,  illustrated  in  a  man- 
ner and  to  an  extent  never  before  attempted 
at*  sea. 

He  was  well  busied  with  these  arrange- 
ments when  the  steward  announced  lunch 
ready  and  Sandy  Hook  in  sight.  He  took 
a  look  out  and  found  the  captain  on  the 
deck,  and  the  pilot  at  his  side,  watching 
the  landmarks,  and  now  and  then  giving 
a  quiet  order  or  a  wave  of  the  hand  to  the 
trusty  and   attentive   man   at   the  wheel. 


22  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

Both  were  too  busy  with  the  care  of  the 
ship  to  give  much  attention  to  eating.  The 
captain's  wife  and  children  were  seated 
under  the  lee  of  the  house  watching  the 
receding  spires  of  the  city,  and  wondering 
when  they  should  see  them  again,  while 
the  two  tugs  were  puffing  away  and  evi- 
dently doing  their  best  to  get  the  great 
Ajax  over  the  bar  before  the  tide  should 
get  too  low/ '''\-.:MiW''''''''^tr^^ 

Jejves  had  watched  New  York  and 
Brooklyn  disappear  many  times  before, 
and  the  wind  was  cold,  so  he  went  in  and 
ate  a  hearty  limch  alone,  drank  a  half 
bottle  of  claret,  and  returned  to  his  work. 
Presently  he  began  to  hear  the  creaking  of 
ropes,  and  then  the  flapping  of  sails,  and 
noticed  that  the  puffing  of  the  tugs  had 
ceased.  The  steward  came  to  know  if  he 
had  any  letters  to  send  back  by  the  pilot. 
He  got  on  deck  in  time  to  see  the  pilot 
shake  hands  with  the  captain,  and  go  over 
the  side  of  the  ship,  and  then  the  tugs 


AN  UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER. 


23 


whistled  a  parting  salute,  sheered  off,  and 
left  the  noble  ship  to  herself. 

He  stayed  on  deck  only  long  enough  to 
give  a  glance  around  and  to  consider  how 
he  should  begin  his  journal  in  a  manner 
appropriate  to  the  starting  of  a  long  and 
perhaps  an  eventful  voyage.  He  went 
below  to  find  some  paper  to  write  his  open- 
ing sentences  on,  but,  not  coming  at  any 
readily,  he  gave  it  up,  anr'  went  on  deck 
again.  There  did  not  seem  to  be  any  par- 
ticular occupation  for  him  there,  either. 
The  captain  was  walking  about,  and  paid 
no  attention  to  him;  the  first  mate  was 
standing  watching  the  man  at  the  wheel 
and  two  others  vociferously  superintending 
getting  sail  on  the  ship. 

The  captain's  wife  and  children  had  gone 
to  try  to  make  themselves  more  comforta- 
ble, and  were  not  to  be  seen ;  the  steward 
had  been  too  busy  to  make  a  fire  in  the 
saloon,  and  Jerves  found  himself  very  cold 
and  alone.     He  walked  up  and  down  for  a 


24  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

while,  and  finally  went  to  his  cabin,  drew 
two  blankets  over  himself,  and  went  to 
fileep  in  a  state  of  doubt  whether  the  voy- 
age was  going  to  be  at  all  what  he  had 
anticipated. 


k   -    •*-"--'•"  *^'  f,;, 


".- ■f^-^'-v'^/'fl-  •--  '^.'''-^' 


CHAPTER  n. 

ANOTHER   UNEXPECTED   PASSENGER. 

The  captain  had  seen  the  sails  set,  and 
was  just  going  to  look  after  the  comfort  of 
his  family  when  he  heard  a  number  of 
sharp,  impatient  whistles,  and  discovered  a 
small  harbor  rag  astern  of  the  ship.  The 
whistles  continuing,  and  there  being  no 
other  vessel  in  sight,  he  knew  they  must  be 
intended  for  him,  so  he  ordered  sail  to  be 
shortened,  till  the  ship  had  only  steerage 
way  on  her,  hoisted  a  flag,  and  waited. 

The  tug  came  up  rapidly,  and  when 
alongside  the  captain  recognized  the  ex- 
pected passenger  who  had  disappointed 
them,  his  wife's  cousin  and  dearest  friend, 
Mrs.  Helen  Bates,  wishing  and  expecting 
to  be  taken  on  board.     The  swash  of  the 

waves    and  the  noise   of  escaping  steam 

26 


St  t 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 


made  conversation  from  the  tug  impossible, 
so  the  chair  in  which  the  captain's  wife 
had  been  hoisted  on  board  was  quickly 
swung  out  again,  and  Mrs.  Bates  as  quickly 
brought  on  board  the  Ajax.  The  captain 
told  her  she  was  too  late  —  they  had  not 
expected  ner^ — tehaS  taken  another  pas- 
senger in  her  place  —  that  passenger  was 
a  man,  and  a  hater  of  women,  and  he  had 
assured  him  that,  except  his  own  wife  and 
the  stewarcTesi,  there  was  not  a  woman 
on  board.  She  could  not  be  taken  —  it 
wuald  make  nothing  but  trouble  if  she  were 
to  go.  It  would  never  do  —  she  must 
really  gb  TBack  to  New  York.  If  she  had 
come  a  day  sooner,  they  would  have  been 
delighted,  but  now  it  was  (juite  impossible. 
By  this  time  they  had  got  into  the 
saloon,  and  the  captain's  wife  had  been 
summoned,  and,  in  spite  of  all  talking  at 
once  and  nearly  driving  Mrs.  Bates  into  a 
fainting  fit,  exhausted  as  she  was  by  cold, 
hunger,  and  anxiety  lest  she   should  not 


ANOTHER   UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER.      27 

overtake  the  ship,  she  was  at  length  made 
to  understand  the  case,  and  with  many 
tears  and  lamentations,  and  in  spite  of  the 
protests  of  the  captain's  wife,  she  prepared 
to  ^j  back.  Going  on  deck  again,  how- 
ever, they  found  that  her  baggage  had  all 
been  put  on  the  ship,  and  that  the  tug  was 
gone.  Signals  were  set  to  call  her  uack, 
but  they  were  of  no  use.  She  had  already 
ventured  further  to  sea  than  was  prudent 
for  such  a  craft ;  the  wind  was  freshening, 
night  would  soon  be  coming  on,  she  had 
once  barely  escaped  being  swamped  by  the 
rolling  of  the  ship,  and  her  master  was  too 
glad  to  get  her  head  turned  towards  New 
York  to  heed  any  signals  whatever. 

There  was  now  no  help  for  it.  To  Hong 
Kong,  or  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  at  least, 
Mrs.  Bates  must  go,  whether  the  captain 
liked  it  or  not.  Except  on  Jen^es's  ac- 
count, he  would  like  it  very  well.  As  for 
his  wife,  she  liked  it  any  way.  So  sail  was 
ordered  to  be  set  again,  and  in  a  few  min- 


28  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

utes  the  Ajax  was  making  eight  knots  an 
hour  on  her  course. 

The  captain  started  for  his  cabin  to  con- 
sult his  wife  as  to  how  he  could  explain 
the  matter  to  Jerves,  and  to  take  —  and, 
what  is  more,  to  follow, .  as  he  generally 
did  —  her  advice  as  to  how  this  awkward 
piece  of  business  should  be  managed.  But 
that  good  woman  was  before  tim,  for,  just 
as  she  and  Mrs.  Bates  returned  from  the 
deck  to  the  saloon,  Jerves  stepped  out  of 
his  room.  j:.^::#::j;w:.:--      ^..^•-..•-■..^, 

Introductions  and  explanations  followed, 
which,  if  not  agreeable,  were  the  best  that 
could  be  made,  and  Jerves  submitted  him- 
self to  the  inevitable  with  the  outward 
grace  that  very  seldom  left  him,  but  with 
an  inward  determination  to  make  Mrs. 
Bates's  voyage  as  disagreeable  as  he  could. 

At  first  sight,  Mrs.  Bates  looked  like  any- 
thing but  a  pleasant  addition  to  the  com- 
pany.    She  was  rather  tall,  and  very  thin, 

m 

she  was  cold,  she  was  faint  with  hunger 


ANOTHER   UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER.      29 

and  fatigue,  she  was  pale,  her  lips  were 
white,  her  hair  was  loose,  and  appeared  to 
be  of  a  dirty  brownish  color,  and  her  cloth- 
ing, wet  with  spray,  hung  on  her  in  limp 
and  draggled  folds.  Jerves  noticed  only 
one  good  point  about  her:  her  eyes  were 
large  and  dark,  though  the  lids  were  red 
and  swollen,  and  still  wet  with  tears.  She 
looked  ill  and  feeble,  and  this,  instead  of 
arousing  his  sympathy,  only  annoyed  him. 
The  idea  of  adding  an  invalid  woman  to 
their  small  party  was  not  a  pleasant  one. 
Another  thing  that  worried  him  was  that 
his  extra  room  must  be  hastily  cleared  out 
and  made  ready  for  Mrs.  Bates's  occupation. 
There  was  still  another  room,  but  the  beds 
had  been  taken  down,  and  it  was  filled  with 
small  stores,  of  which  his  dray-load  of  del- 
icacies formed  no  small  portion.  And  so 
his  cameras,  and  chemicals,  and  books,  and 
desk,  and  all  his  paraphernalia  must  be 
moved  and  stowed  away  on  shelves  and  in 
lockers.     He  felt  aggrieved  and  imposed 


80  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN-  HATER. 

upon,  and,  though  he  knew  the  captain  was 
not  at  fault,  he  showed  his  ill-nature  so 
much  as  to  make  that  gentleman  wish  it 
were  allowable  to  dispose  of  disagreeable 
passengers  by  throwing  them  overboard. 
As  it  was  not,  he  went  on  deck  and  smoked 
a  pipe  to  quiet  his  nerves' and  allow  his 
wrath  to  subside.  '  i 

The  captain  was  in  the  habit  of  having 
dinner  late,  and  by  the  time  it  was  an- 
nounced the  steward  had  lighted  lamps  and 
a  fire,  and  when  Jerves  came  out  of  his 
room  again  he  found  the  saloon  warm  and 
l)r!gtt  and  a  smoking  1iot  dinner  on  a 
neatly  laid  table,  adorned  with  fruits  and 
flowers.  The  ladies  appeared  also,  and, 
though  Mrs.  Bates  said  little  and  was  not 

• 

at  ease,  Jerves  noticed  that  her  voice  was 
soft  and  not  at  all  unpleasant.  The  meal 
psssed  off  fairly  well.  Jerves  even  pro- 
duced a  bottle  of  champagne,  and  drank  to 
the  success  of  the  voyage,  but  rather  be- 
cause he  had  thought  beforehand  that  it 


Mittiil^Hk 


ANOTHER  UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER.      31 

would  be  a  very  nice  and  proper  thing  to 
do  than  from  any  present  inclination.  The 
captain  took  a  single  glass,  and  his  wife  a 
sip,  but  Mrs.  Bates  kept  her  glass  upside 
down,  and  said,  softly :  "  I  must  beg  you 
to  excuse  me,  Mr.  Jerves  —  I  neve*  take 
wine." 

After  dinner  the  two  men  took  their 
cigars  on  deck,  where  the  captain  told 
Jerves  Mrs.  Bates's  story.  His  wife  had 
foimd  time  to  tell  him  what  he  had  not 
known  before. 

Helen  Masson  was  the  daughter  of  a 
respectable  ship-builder  in  a  small  eastern 
city.  Her  parents  were  not  wealthy,  but, 
as  long  as  wooden  ship-building  flourished, 
were  able  to  live  in  easy  comfort,  and  to 
give  their  children  the  best  education  the 
local  teachers  could  afford.  To  Helen,  in- 
deed, the  youngest,  the  baby,  the  child  of 
their  old  age,  they  had  given  more  than 
this,  and,  although  they  had  already  begun 
to  find  themselves  straitened  for  the  means, 


82  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

they  had  sent  her  for  two  years  to  a  cele- 
brated school.  The  death  of  her  two 
brothers  at  Fredericksburg  hastened  that  of 
her  mother,  and  at  nineteen  she  came  home 
to  take  care  of  her  father,  now  completely 
broken  down  and  poor.  She  obtained  a 
situation  as  teacher  in  one  of  the  schools  of 
the  city,  and  until  his  death  she  supported 
them  both  out  of  her  meagre  salary.  At 
twenty-one  she  married  the  son  of  a  banker 
in  a  neighboring  city,  but  the  marriage 
was  not  a  happy  one.  The  husband,  a  gay, 
pleasure-loving  fellow,  fell  into  bad  com- 
pany, drank,  gambled,  beat  and  abused  her, 
and  finally  ran  away  to  avoid  arrest  for 
plundering  the  bank  of  the  money  which 
he  had  lost  and  squandered  in  his  pleas- 
ures. Too  proud  to  accept  help,  and  with- 
out other  resources,  she  tried  to  support 
herself  and  baby  by  giving  music  lessons ; 
but  spirits  and  health  gave  way  imder  the 
strain.  The  child  was  never  strong,  and 
she  had  no  means  of  giving  it  the  care  and 


tiwiiMiii 


■M 


ANOTHER   UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER.      33 

iiourisliinent  it  needed.  Fortunately,  a 
relative  in  the  country  one  day  proposed  to 
take  it  home  with  her  to  see  what  fresh 
air  and  country  food  might  do  for  it,  and 
from  that  day  it  grew  and  thrived.  Six 
months  later  she  learned  of  the  death  of 
her  husband,  killed  in  a  disreputable  house 
in  the  West,  in  a  drunken  brawl  of  his  own 
provocation. 

Teaching  music  under  such  circum- 
stances was  weary  work,  and,  as  the  state 
of  her  health  and  spirits  prevented  her 
from  giving  lessons  regularly,  her  pay  was 
too  small  for  her  to  procure  for  herself  the 
food  that  she  needed.  Still,  she  kept  on, 
until  one  morning  she  found  herself  im- 
able  to  rise  from  her  bed.  One  of  her 
little  scholars,  coming  for  a  lesson,  and 
finding  her  in  this  condition,  ran  home  and 
told  her  mother,  who  went  at  once  and  re- 
moved her  to  her  own  house,  where,  with 
care  and  nourishing  food  and  kindness,  she 
'began  to  recover  her  strength. 


34 


CBUI8E  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 


Just  at  this  time  Captain  Bluson's  wife, 
having  decided  to  go  with  her  husband  to 
China,  wrote  to  invite  her  to  go  with  them. 
She  expatiated  on  the  advantages,  sea  air 
and  good  living,  plenty  of  books  and  music, 
freedom  from  care,  and  no  hard  work.  If 
she  would  only  give  the  boys  a  few  lessons, 
all  her  expenses  would  be  paid,  and  she 
should  have  a  small  monthly  salary.  (There 
was  something  of  the  flature  of  a  pious 
fraud  about  this  salary,  for  the  pretext  of 
the  lessons  was  only  an  excuse  for  its  pay- 
ment. The  fraud  never  troubled  Mrs. 
Bluson's  conscience  a  bit,  and  I  doubt 
whether  the  recording  angel  did  not  forget 
to  score  it  against  her.) 

The  o£Eer  was  tempting,^ but  Mrs.  Bates 
had  not  strength  to  accept  it.  Besides,  she 
liad  no  outfit.  The  voyage  would  be  long, 
and  through  many  changes  of  climate ;  her 
scanty  clothing  was  worn  and  insufficient, 
and  she  had  no  money  to  buy  more.  She 
was  compelled  to  decline,  but  the   effort 


■jilllifnrillfil'iiirr  I'm  i 


ANOTHER   UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER,      36 

cost  her  so  much  that  she  lost  all  she  had 
gamed,  and  took  to  her  bed,  never  expect- 
ing and  scarcely  hoping  to  rise  from  it 
again. 

Here  her  kind  friend  came  to  her  aid. 
With  hopeful  words  and  cheerful  voice  and 
offers  of  ready  help  she  roused  her  up,  and 
induced  her  to  attempt  the  voyage.  But 
the  days  had  been  going  by,  the  Ajax  was 
nearly  ready,  and  there  was  not  much  time 
for  preparation.  She  sent  a  letter  accept- 
ing the  invitation,  but  it  was  not  re-' 
ceived.  (The  captain  afterwards  found  it 
in  a  package  of  the  ship's  vouchers,  where 
it  had  been  left  through  the  carelessness  of 
an  office-boy.) 

Her  friend  bought  her  few  remaining  ar- 
ticles of  furniture  at  many  times  their 
value,  and  also  bought  materials  and 
dresses,  and  added  so  much  from  her  own 
ample  stores  that  Mrs.  Bates  was  surprised 
to  find  at  starting  for  New  York  that  her 
one  trunk  had  grown  to  three,  and  when 


% 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

the  baggageman  put  the  checks  into  her 
hand  she  insisted  it  must  be  a  mistake. 
But  no,  the  trunks  were  there,  bright  and 
new,  and  all  plainly  marked  with  her  own 
name.  Her  friend's  bluff  but  kind  old  hus- 
band, who  suddenly  had  business  in  New 
York,  where  he  had  not  been  before  for 
twenty  years,  assured  her  that  he  knew 
nothing  about  it.  It  might  be  some  of 
Maria's  doings,  and  therefore  must  be  all 
right.  At  any  rate,  she  must  keep  the 
checks;  there  was  no  time  for  inquiries, 
the  train  was  about  to  start;  there  were 
many  friends  to  say  good-bye,  and  lie  bustled 
about  and  went  to  buy  newspapers,  and  she 
saw  no  more  of  him  till  the  train  was 
going  out  of  the  station,  when  he  appeared 
from  the  smoking  car  with  a  whole  arm- 
ful of  books,  papers,  and  flowers  that  he 
deposited  in  her  lap.  "  Maria  "  had  refused 
to  go  to  the  station,  and  tearful  farewells 
had  been  said  at  home ;  but,  just  as  the 
train  moved  off,  Mrs.  Bates  saw  her  stand- 


ANOTHER   UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER.      87 

ing,  flushed  and  red,  on  a  baggage  truck, 
waving  her  handkerchief  and  shouting 
good-byes  at  the  top  of  her  voice. 

Everybody  remembers  the  fearful  acci- 
dent at  the  Milford  bridge.  Several  per- 
sons were  killed,  and  many  injured.  Mrs. 
Bates  saw  but  little  of  it,  though  enough  to 
sliake  her  weak  nerves  sadly;  but  her 
train  was  delayed,  so  that  when  she  arrived 
in  New  York  the  Ajax  had  already  sailed. 
Maria  Watterson's  husband  was,  however, 
a  man  of  resources,  and,  hailing  a  tug-boat, 
he  offered  a  liberal  price  if  the  ship  could 
be  overtaken  and  Mrs.  Bates  put  on  board. 
(The  master  earned  his  money,  as  we  know, 
and  Mr.  Watterson  walked  up  and  down 
the  dock  till  the  tug  came  back,  when  he 
took  the  first  train  for  home,  leaving  the 
business  for  which  he  was  supposed  to  have 
gone  to  New  York  entirely  neglected.) 

The  story  told,  and  the  cigars  finished, 
Jerves  bade  the  captain  good-night,  and 
went  to  bed,  if  not  good-natured,  at  least 


88 


ir 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 


less  surly  than  he  had  been  in  the  after- 
noon. He  was  sorry  for  Mrs.  Bates's 
misfortunes,  but  wished  she  were  on  some 
other  ship,  and  he  grumbled  at  himself  for 
having  been  persuaded  to  relinquish  his 
trip  to  Alaska.  He  was  sure  she  would 
interfere  with  all  his  comforts,  would  mo- 
nopolize all  the  nice,  shady  places  wnen  it 
was  hot,  and  take  the  best  place  at  the 
stove  when  it  was  cold.  She  had  already 
deranged  his  writing  desk,  and  she  might 
be  critical  about  his  painting.  To  be  sure, 
"  The  Invalid  Passenger  "  would  be  a  good 
subject  for  sketches,  but  he  had  not  confi- 
dence enough  in  his  pencil  to  be  certain  of 
representing  those  eyes.  He  might  get 
photographs  of  her,  if  necessary,  he  could 
even  take  an  instantaneous  view  without 
her  knowledge.  But  he  was  sure  she  would 
be  a  nuisance,  for  all  that.  So,  grumbling 
and  discontented,  he  went  to  bed,  and 
nothing  troubled  him  till  the  breakfast-bell 
rang. 


CHAPTER  m. 


MB.   JERVES   WILL   NOT    BE    IMPOSED   UPON. 


The  next  day  was  cold  and  rainy.  The 
wind  had  "  hauled  round  to  the  eastward/* 
the  second  mate  said.  The  captain  was  on 
deck  in  his  rubber  coat,  and  the  men 
slouched  about  dripping.  Neither  of  the 
ladies  appeared,  and  an  occasional  wail 
from  the  children  announced  that  they  too 
were  not  happy.  Jerves  sat  by  the  fire 
and  smoked  until  lunch,  when  the  captain 
came  in  and  quietly  remarked  that  it  was 
rather  a  nasty  day,  and  that  there  was  a 
steamer  in  sight,  probably  from  the  Medi- 
terranean for  New  York,  Jerves  specu- 
lated on  the  possibilities  of  getting  on  board 
her,  and  so  back  to  New  York,  but,  finding 
she  would  not  pass  within  three  or  four 
miles,  gave  it  up.     He  had  not  found  amok- 


40 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 


ing  and  reading  French  novels  entirely 
satisfactory,  although  they  had  formed  a 
good  part  of  his  programme  for  recreation 
in  rainy  weather.  The  captain  turned  in 
for  a  nap,  and  Jerveb,  having  tried  to  sleep 
and  given  it  up,  returned  to  his  pipe  and 
Iffitef  novels,  and  the  afternoon  passed  as 
drearily  as  the  morning.  The  only  sign  of 
life  was  when  the  rotund  stewai  iess  passed 
to  one  or  the  otter  of  the  rooms  with  cups 
•  of  tea  or  bowls  of  broth.  The  ladies  had 
found  no  favor  with  Neptune,  and  were 
miserable,  and  so  were  the  children.  The 
dinner  was  not  much  more  pleasant  than 
the  lunch,  but  the  curried  lobster  gave 
Jerves  an  idea  of  possibilities  of  good  cheer 
to  come,  and,  after  he  had  drank  a  cup  of 
coffee,  and  smoked  one  of  the  captain's 
choicest  cigars,  and  beaten  him  at  a  game 
of  chess,  he  felt  much  better,  and  thought 
that  if  Mrs.  Bates  would  continue  to  be  *^1, 
there  was  a  chance  of  his  getting  some  sat- 
isfaction out  of  the  voyage,  after  all.    The 


JEEVES  WILL  NOT  BE  IMPOSED  UPON.    41 


first  mate  came  in,  too,  and  Jerves  found 
him  a  right  jovial  fellow,  full  of  ^un  and 
anecdotes  and  of  plans  for  amusement  to 
be  set  on  foot  as  soon  as  the  ship  should 
"get  into  better  weather."  :      .^^^ 

Two  more  equally  dreary  days  followed, 
.ind  the  morning  of  the  third  was  not  much 
better  than  its  predecessors,  though  the  air 
was  softer.  About  noon  the  sun  came  out, 
the  >  ind  went  round  to  the  west,  and  the 
ship,  on  nearly  an  even  keel,  was  making 
only  four  or  live  knots  an  hour.  At  limch 
the  boys  came  out,  and  at  dinner  the  ladies 
were  out  also.  Mrs.  Bates  was  very  paTe, 
but  her  lips  were  brighter  than  when  she 
came  on  board.  She  spoke  but  little,  and 
soon  retired.  Jerves  noticed  only  the  luxu* 
riance  of  her  hair;  >  ''\:_i:::X:i:)^\ 

The  next  morning  the  sun  rose  bright 
and  clear,  the  air  was  soft  and  warm, 
and  the  gentle  breeze  from  the  westward 
continued.  The  captain  said  they  were  in 
the  Gulf  Stream.    After  breakfast,  Jerves 


42  CRUISE  OF  A  WOMAN  HATER. 

brought  out  his  note-book,  his  pencils,  and 
his  sketch-book.  It  was  time,  he  thought, 
to  begin  his  work  in  earnest.  He  wrote  a 
few  minutes,  and  then  began  a  sketch  of  a 
sailor  seated  on  a  block,  splicing  a  rope^ 
The  splice  was  completed  before  the  sketch 
was  done,  and  he  deferred  finishing  it  to 
some  other  time,  and  decided  to  finish 
hm  novel  before  writing  or  drawing  any 
more.  Somehow,  the  time  did  not  seem 
favorable  for  much  effo^^-.  The  steward 
produced  from  some  mysterious  quarter 
two  of  those  deep,  capacious,  rattan  easy- 
chairs,  brought  only  on  ships  familiar  with 
East  Indian  waters  ;  and  presently  the  cap- 
tain escorted  Mrs.  Bates  to  one  of  them, 
tucked  her  up  with  rugs  and  blankets, 
chatted  a  few  minutes,  and  left  her.  Jerves 
rose,  and  lifted  his  hat  as  she  passed  him, 
and  asked  how  she  was  feeling.  She 
acknowledged  the  courtesy  with  a  bow,  and 
replied,  quietly,  "  Much  better,  thank  you.'* 
After  the  captain  left  her,  she  sat  look- 


JERVE8  WILL  NOT  BE  IMPOSED  UPON.     48 

ing  over  the  water  a  long  time.  Jerves 
wondered  whether  he  ought  to  speak  to  her 
again,  and  was  debating  what  he  should 
say  and  how  he  should  say  it  in  a  way 
that  would  not  be  impolite,  and  at  the 
same  time  would  not  encourage  her  to 
think  she  was  to  presume  on  or  expect 
any  attention  from  him,  when  he  was 
startled  to  hear  her  call  him  by  name.  He 
came  near  her,  and  she  said  in  a  low  voice, 
sometimes  firm,  and  sometimes  tremulous : 
"  Mr.  Jerves,  I  quite  understand  tKat  my 
presence  on  this  ship  is  as  unwelcome  as 
it  was  unexpected  to  you.  I  wish  once  for 
all  to  say  that  I  fully  release  you  from  any 
obligation^  y ou  may  feel  to  treat  me  with 
more  than  the  ordinary  politeness  with 
which  you  would  treat  any  passenger  on 
board  a  ship,  if  there  were  a  hundred  pas- 
sengers instead  of  two.  I  shall  endeavor 
not  to  interfere  with  your  occupations  or 
amusements,  and  I  ask  no  consideration  on 
account  of  my  health  or  my  sex.     I  hope 


44 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB. 


not  to  annoy  yon,  and  I  am  certain  you 
will  not  annoy  me."   , 

Now,  this  was  not  at  all  the  kind  of  lan- 
guage Jerves  had  expected  ^o  hear.  There 
was  no  apology  for  being  on  board,  no  ex- 
cuses, no  call  for  his  sympathy,  no  demand 
for  his  forbearance.  Her  manner,  indeed, 
almost  seemed  a  trifle  haughty.  All  his 
carefidly  prepared  sentences  were  blown  to 

t  the  winds,  and  he  blundered  oat  something 

-    about  being  sure  they  should  not  trouble 
each  other,  was  conscious  he  had  said  badly 

;  not  what  he  meant  to  say,  and  went  away 

forward  just  as  the  captain's  boys  and  their 

V  mother  came  chasing  each  other  out  of  the 

saloon.     He  was  vexed  with  himself,  vexed 

with  Mrs.  Bates,  vexed  with  everybody, 

-  and  he  lighted  his  pipe,  and  pretended  to 
go  on  with  his  sketching,  while  the  ladies 
chatted  pleasantly  and  the  boys  ran  about 
the  ship  and  played  with  the  first  mate. 
He  had  intended  to  leave  Mrs.  Bates  alone, 
and  here  he  was  left  alone  himself. 


JERVES  WILL  NOT  BE  IMPOSED  UPON.     45 

When  lunch  was  announced,  the  captain 
brought  in  Mrs.  Bates,  and  was  in  high 
humor.  He  chatted  about  school  days  with 
Jerves,  and  brought  a  laugh  to  Mrs.  Bates' 
pale  face  with  a  story  of  some  boyish 
frolic.  After  lunch  he  ran  races  with  the 
boys,  and  showed  them  how  to  tie  knots, 
and  played  cribbage  with  his  wife,  and 
Jerves  looked  on  and  was  interested,  while 
Mrs.  Bates  slept.  Somehow,  dinner  seemed 
to  come  quickly,  and  passed  off  nicely,  and 
the  two  men  smoked  their  cigars  on  deck 
and  walked  and  talked  gayly  in  the  moon- 
light. Jerves  forgot  his  annoyances,  and 
went  to  bed  and  to  sleep  in  a  quiet  state  of 
mind.  -     '  ^'^    ^       ' 

The  next  day  was  Sunday.  The  wea- 
ther continued  fine,  but  the  breeze  was 
stronger,  and  the  Ajax  was  ploughing 
the  water  nobly.  The  captain's  wife  had 
stipulated,  as  usual,  for  religious  services 
on  Sundays,  and  he  had  .eadily  agreed. 
There  was  a    discussion    as    to    whether 


46  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEH. 

they  should  be  held  in  the  saloon  or  on 
deck,  but  the  captain  settled  that,  when 
the  weather  was  suitable,  they  should  be 
held  on  deck,  as  being  an  aid  to  the 
discipline  and  inspection  of  the  men. 
Services  on  the  captain's  ships,  when  his 
wife  was  on  board,  were  no  new  thing, 
and  the  mates  and  the  men  who  had  sailed 
with  him  knew  what  to  expect.  At  the 
appointed  hour,  all  but  those  actually  en- 
gaged in  working  the  ship  came  aft  in 
a  body,  some  willingly,  some  grum- 
bling, but  all  washed  and  clean;  they 
were  headed  by  the  second  mate, 
who  ranged  them  on  each  side  of  the 
capstan,  which  served  the  purpose  of  a 
desk.  The  captain  came  from  the  saloon 
with  Mrs.  Bates,  followed  by  his  wife  and 
the  boys.  Jerves  laid  aside  his  pipe  and 
novel,  and  joined  them.  There  were 
books  for  all  who  wanted  them.  The 
captain  read  the  service  prepared  for 
such  occasions,  and  his^  wife   led   the   re- 


-4 


JEBVJSS  WILL  NOT  BE  IMPOSED  UPON.    47 

sponses.  When  it  came  to  the  hymn, 
she  started  it  alone,  her  husband  and  the 
second  mate  followed,  and,  by  the  time 
the  thud  line  was  reached,  Mrs.  Bates's 
voice  was  heard,  low  but  clear  and  very 
sweet.  The  service  proceeded.  The  first 
hymn  had  gone  so  well  that  the  captain 
resolved  not  to  shirk  the  second,  as  he 
sometimes  did  when  there  were  ,  only 
himself  and  wife  to  sing  it.  By  this 
time  Jerves  had  determined  that,  if  an- 
other hymn  was  sung,  Mrs.  Bates  should 
know  that  there  was  another  singer  on 
board  besides  herself,  and  when  it  was 
announced  he  joined  in  with  his  tenor.  It 
was  an  old  air,  he  had  not  sung  since  he 
was  a  child.  His  voice  was  good,  and 
seemed  to  support  Mrs.  Bates's,  and  she 
sang  much  more  strongly  than  before. 

The  service  over,  some  of  the  men 
went  forward,  but  others  lingered  about, 
and  directly  a  little  old  seaman  came  to 
the  captain,  cap  in  hand,  and,  with  many 


m 


48 


CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATEB. 


bows  and  apologies  for  presuming,  asked 
if  the  lady  would  not  sing  them  another 
song.  The  captain  looked  at  Mrs.  Bates, 
who,  without  a  word,  but  with  a  kindly 
glance  at  the  old  man,  rose  and  sang 
some  sacred  words  set  to  the  well  known 
tune  "Robin  Adair."  This  concluded, 
the  captain  said,  "That  will  do  for  to- 
day, men,"  the  second  mate  called  out 
"All  forward,"  the  men  bowed  and  went 
away,  Mrs.  Bates  lay  down  to  rest  from 
her  fatigue,  and  Jerves  lighted  another 
pipe  and  finished  his  novel.  r     ' 

At  lunch,  the  service  of  the  morning 
formed  the  subject  of  conversation,  and 
the  enthusiastic  singing  of  the  second 
mate,  and  the  tidy  and  respectable  ap- 
pearance of  the  old  seaman,  were  espec- 
ially commented  on.  The  afternoon 
passed  pleasantly  enough.  The  captain 
tried  to  explain  how  to  take  and  work 
out  lunar  observations,  and  talked  about 
Stanleys    explorations    in     Africa,    and 


JERVES  WILL  NOT  BE  IMPOSED  UPON,    49 

the  Protective  Tariff,  and  sea-bathing. 
This  reminded  Jerves  that  he  had  par- 
tially arranged  with  the  mate  to  take  a 
douche  from  the  hose,  forward,  when  the 
men  were  washing  the  decks  in  the  morn- 
ing, instead  of  his  usual  dip  in  the  tub. 
He  had  heard  the  captain  say  to  Mrs. 
Bates  that,  as  soon  as  she  was  strong 
enough  to  bear  it,  she  must  have  a  salt 
water  bath  every  day.  It  was  only  polite 
to  give  an  invalid  the  free  use  of  the 
ship's  bathing-room,  and  it  was  possible 
he  might  like  the  douche  quite  as  well. 

Dinner  on  Sundays  t? as  an  hour  earlier 
than  on  other  days,  and  all  were  expected 
to  dress  for  it  when  weather  permitted. 
It  was  one  of  the  captain's  ways  of  show- 
ing respect  for  the  day.  He,  accordingly, 
on  that  day,  decorated  himself  with  the 
well  prf'served  uniform  coat  that  he  had 
worn  auring  the  short  period  of  his 
service  as  commander  of  a  gunboat  in 
the   navy,    and    the    ladies    appeared    in 


50  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

dresses  such  as  they  might  have  worn  at 
a  dinner-party  on  shore.  Jerves  was 
inclined  to  bring  out  a  dress  suit,  but 
finally  decided  on  a  new  blue  one,  in 
which  he  knew  he  looked  well.  The 
dinner  was  pleasant,  almost  festive.  The 
Chinese  cook  had  exerted  himself  more 
than  usual,  and  the  steward  had  even 
prepared  a  menu,  that  was  an  extraor- 
dinary bit  of  caligraphy.if#  Coffee  and 
cigars  were  served  on  deck,  but,  hearing 
the  ladies  and  children  at  the  piano,  the 
gentlemen  joined  them.  The  boys  sang 
school  songs,  and  Mrs.  Bates  some  simple 
melodies.  Jerves,  being  asked  to  sing, 
gave  Cujus  animanij  to  Mrs.  Bates's  ac- 
companiment, arid  sang  it  very  well. 

Perhaps  he  sang  it  too  well,  for  no  one 
cared  to  sing  after  him,  though  Mrs.  Bates 
complimented  him  highly.  The  boys  want- 
ed her  to  sing  again,  but  she  pleaded  fatigue, 
and  Jerves  refrained  from  asking  her  to  sing 
a  duet  with  him,  as  he  had  intended. 


^'^S- 


CHAPTER    IV.  r^     r 

MR.   JERYES'S    VIEWS   ON   MATRIMONY. 

'-"  »    =    - 

Monday  dawned  as  pleasant  as  Sunday. 
Jerves  rose  early,  went  forward  and  took 
his  douche,  then  had  a  cup  of  coffee,  dressed 
leisurely,  smoked  a  cigarette,  and  was 
ready  for  breakfast  in  excellent  condition 
of  body  and  mind.  Afterwards,  the  car- 
penter marked  out  squares  for  shuffle-board, 
and  produced  the  pins  for  ring-quoits. 
They  played  partners;  the  captain  and 
his  boys  against  his  wife  and  Jerves.  Mrs. 
Bates  tried  the  games,  but  found  them  too 
fatiguing  for  her  strength  so  she  sat  by 
and  applauded  the  boy's  shots.  Jerves 
thought  it  a  good  time  for  photography, 
and  brought  out  his  camera,  and  was  quite 
successful.      He    was    afraid    Mrs.    Bates 

might  object  to  being  photographed,  but 

51 


i 


• 


52  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

she  did  not  mind  it  at  all.  She  was  even 
quite  interested,  and  told  him  she  had 
heard  of  an  electric  shutter  by  which  views 
of  clouds  and  waves  in  motion  and  such 
things  could  be  taken.  The  captain  prom- 
ised to  help  to  make  one,  and  also  to  con- 
trive a  self-levelling  apparatus  for  the 
camera,  that  he  thought  would  be  £^  good 
thing.  Jerves  made  a  dark  closet  of  the 
bathing-room,  and  took  prints  from  his 
negatives,  and  was  very  busy,  so  that  din- 
ner came  before  he  was  aware  of  it. 

At  bedtime  the  captain  found  the 
barometer  had  fallen  considerably,  and  he 
took  another  turn  on  deck,  to  make  sure 
that  everything  was  snug,  made  the  stew* 
ardess  put  another  board  on  the  side  of 
Mrs.  Bates's  bed,  and  provide  it  with  extra 
cushions  and  pillows  to  keep  her  comforta- 
ble in  case  the  ship  should  roll  heavily,  and 
warned  Jerves  to  belay  all  his  traps,  for  he 
thought  they  might  have  some  wind  before 
morning.     Then  he  tucked  his  wife  away 


JERVES'8  VIEWS  ON  MATBIMONT. 


tt 


snugly,  lashed  the  bedclothes  over  the  boys 
so  they  should  not  be  thrown  out  of  their 
berth,  gave  orders  to  be  called  at  midnight, 
and  in  five  minutes  was  asleep.  .  ,.^  ? 
:;  Next  morning  the  ship  was  under  single 
topsails.  .       ^v^ 

Jerves  was  up  again  early,  and  went  for- 
ward for  his  douche,  and  got  that  and 
something  to  spare,  for  a  wave  that  came 
over  the  bows  just  then  gave  him  a  drench- 
ing through  everything  he  had  on.  He 
was  glad  Mrs.  Bates  was  not  by  to  see 
the  figure  he  cut  as  he  scrambled  back 
along  the  bulwarks  to  his  room.  He 
wished  he  had  the  electric  shutter  ready  so 
that  he  could  take  a  good  view  of  those 
stupendous  waves.  He  thought  she  would 
be  interested.       .  v  v 

Mrs.  Bates  had  been  in  fear  for  several 
hours,  but  had  not  been  able  to  get  up,  on 
account  of  the  rolling  and  pitching.  She 
rang  her  bell  for  the  stewardess,  but  that 
personage  was  sleeping  the  sleep  of  those 


/ 


64 


cnmsx  or  a  woman  bateh. 


for  whom  the  mere  rolling  of  a  good  ship 
has  no  terrors*  Stie  was  so  wedged  into 
her  berth  that  she  could  scarcely  move, 
and,  while  she  was  prevented  from  being 
rolled  about  and  banged  and  bruised,  she 
was  ur^comfortable,  and  the  creaking  of  the 
timbers  and  the  howling  and  shrieking  of 
the  wind  were  fearful  to  her.  It  was  a 
great  relief  when  the  captain,  who  had 
been  in  to  see  if  his  wife  and  children  were 
comfortable,  and  had  found  them  chatting 
merrily,  called  out  as  he  passed  her  door  I 
**  H*^  are  you,  Helen  ?  Are  you  all  right  f  * 
She  ansv/ered  :  **  I  am  here  and  alive,  but 
is  not  the  wind  terrible  ?  "  "  Just  a  mod- 
erate  gale  —  that  is  all.**  "Is  there  any 
danger?"  "  Not  the  slightest/'  "But  it 
is  awful  to  be  shut  in  here  when  there  is 
such  dreadful  commotion  outside." 
;  ^*  Shall  I  open  your  door  ?  "    ^ 

"Oh,  yes,  please.  If  I  can  hear  some 
one  speak  sometimes,  it  will  seem  less  like 
a  tomb." 


JRRVSS'8  VIK}V8  ON  MATRTMONY.        65 

*  So  he  hooked  her  door  opaili  Haid  he 
would  come  again  by  and  by,  and  went 
away  wfiffilllttg.  She  had  some  doubts 
whether  he  had  not  spoken  ho  cheerfully 
just  to  quiet  her  fears,  but  presently  she 
heard  the  steward  setting  the  breakfast 
table,  and  humming  "  Robin  Adair  *'  softly  as 
he  did  so,  and,  feeling  reassured,  she  dropped 
off  to  sleep,  until  wakened  by  hearing  the  cap- 
tain and  Jerves  at  breakfast  laughing  over 
the  account  of  the  latter's  douche.  Her 
door  being  open,  she  seemed  to  be  almost  . 
one  of  the  party,  and  could  not  help  laugh- 
ing herself ;  hearing  which,  the  captain 
hailed  her  and  asked  her  to  join  them,  and 
Jerves  inquired  if  she  would  not  have  a  cup 
of  coffee.  She  declined  the  former  invita- 
tion, but  accepted  the  latter,  and  Jerves 
made  her  a  fresh  one  with  his  patent 
coffee-pot,  and  sent  the  stewardess  with  it. 
He  was  just  as  much  resolved  as  ever  to 
do  nothing  to  make  her  TOya^  pleai^t ; 
but  to  send  a  cup  of  coffee  to  an  invalid 


■=issm 


56  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

was  only  decent  civility.  It  would  be  a 
shame  not  to  do  as  much  as  that.  Besides, 
he  remembered  her  kindness  in  suggesting 
the  electrical  shutter.  She  thanked  him 
courteously,  and  pronounced  the  coffee  ex- 
cellent. :i; 

Jerves  went  forward  with  the  captain  to 
direct  the  carpenter  about  arranging  the 
self-levelling  camera.  Mrs.  Bates  kept  her 
room ;  the  captain's  wife  brought  her  sew- 
ing  and  sat  within  talking  distance.  The 
boys  came,  and  little  Bobby  crawled  into 
bed  beside  her,  and  Harry  sat  on  the  floor, 
and  dhe  told  them  stories  and  riddles. 
Bobby  crowed  and  pretended  to  be  en  aed 
when  the  ship  rolled  one  way,  and  threat- 
ened to  crowd  her  out  of  bed  when  it  rolled 
the  other.  Altogether,  they  had  a  merry 
time  of  it  until  the  gentlemen  came  in  to 
lunch,  and  then  the  ga^yety  contiimed. 
Perhaps  they  were  all  the  more  gay  for 
being  a  licile  separated  but  still  within 
hearing.     The  cabins  or  state-rooms  opened 


JSRVES'S   VIEWS  ON  MATRIMONY. 


57 


into  the  dining-saloon,  while  the  main 
saloon  and  captain's  rooms  were  farther 
aft.  The  dining-saloon  led  out  to  the  main 
deck,  but  the  saloon  proper  was  more 
directly  reached  from  the  after  part  of  the 
ship  by  a  companionv^ay,  the  saloon  and 
cabins  being  built  into  a  half  poop  raised  a 
few  steps  from  the  main  deck.  The  top 
of  this  poop  or  house  was  the  deck  in  most 
common  use  by  the  passengers  and  the  cap- 
tain. The  saloons  were  well  lighted  and 
ventilated  by  skylights  of  stained  glass, 
and  the  cabins  by  ports,  which  could  al- 
ways be  opened,  except  in  extremely  bad 
weather.  ^^  f #- 

Mrs.  Bates  proposed  to  get  up  to  lunch 
if  the  captain  would  only  stop  the  ship 
while  she  was  dressing.  She  thought 
she  should  be  able  to  stand  either  the 
rolling  or  pitching,  but  the  "  corkscrew 
movement,"  when  the  ship  rolled  and 
pitched  both  together^  was  too  much. 
She  was  *'  a  little  hungry  but  not  very,** 


u'-J. 


6g  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

whereupon  Jeryes  ransacked  his  stores 
for  a  can  of  boned  turkey  and  some 
preserves,  and  made  her  another  cup  of 
coffee,  quite  forgetting  to  inquire  whether 
politeness  required  it  or  not.  She  said 
she  was  g!ad  there  were  no  bones  in  the 
turkey,  for  she  had  too  many  bones 
already,  and  they  all  ached. 
fjThe  wind  lulled  a  little  during  the 
afternoon,  but  blew  harder  than  before 
during  that  night  and  the  next  morning, 
but  about  noon  the  sea  was  quieter  again, 
and  the  second  mate  "  reckoned  they  had 
run  out  of  it."  All  came  out  on  deck  in 
the  afternoon,  and  Jerves  exhibited  and 
illustrated  his  camera,  and  in  the  evening 
they  played  whist,  and  Jerves  and  the 
captain's  wife  got  badly  beaten  by  the 
other  two.  h 

The  following  day  was  fine,  the  awn- 
ings were  spread,  an  J  all  busied  them- 
selves  as  they  liked.  Mrs.  Bates  proposed 
to  commence  the   children's    lessons,   but 


i  / 


JERVES'S  VIEWS  ON  MATRIMONY. 


69 


the  captain's  wife  insisted  she  was  not 
strong  enough  yet,  and  pacified  her  with 
some  easy  crotchet-work,  while  she  her- 
self sewed.  Jerves  photographed  the 
men  at  their  work,  the  stewardess,  and 
anything  else  that  came  handy.  For  a 
picturesque  subject,  the  colored  stewardess, 
in  her  flaming  bandanna,  was  a  good  one. 
There  was  no  need  to  wedge  Tier^faitb  her 
berth  in  heavy  weather.  If  she  would 
only  lie  on  her  back,  as  it  would  seem 
she  generally  did,  she  would  fit  altogether 
too  close  to  roll  much.  Her  name  was 
supposed  to  be  Cleopatra,  but  the  cap- 
tain had  christened  her  "Baby,"  and  her 
husband,  the  steward,  who  was  about  four 
sizes  smaller  than  herself,  was,  with  equal 
appropriateness,  called  "Samson."  These 
two  having  got  into  an  excited  discussion 
over  their  work,  Jerves  slyly  turned  the 
camera  upon  them  at  a  critical  moment, 
and  took  an  instantanebus  view  that 
gave  rise  to  infinite  mirth.     The  captain 


60  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

meanwhile,  worked  at  the  self-levelling 
apparatus,  and  the  boys  pitched  quoits, 
though  little  Bobby  was  not  much  higher 
than  the  pins  themselves.  I    -a^l 

The  after-dinner  coffee  and  cigars  were 
served  on  deck  again,  and  the  captain 
and  Jerves  stretched  themselves  out  in 
the  large  easy-chairs  and  talked.  Haviiig 
gone  over  the  most  of  "the  world,  and 
all  that  therein  is,"  their  talk  turned,  as 
not  seldom  happened,  to  women  and 
matrimony,  on  which  subjects,  as  may 
well  be  imagined,  their  views  differed 
widely.  The  captain  maintained  that  a 
man  could  nevef  know  wHat  happiness 
was  until  he  had  a  wife,  and  Jerves,  as 
usual,  claimed  that  women  were  the  cause 
of  all  the  trouble  in  the  world,  and  that  the 
less  a  man  had  to  do  with  them,  the  betteif. 
"  According  to  his  views,  women  were 
responsible  for  all  the  wars,  pestilences, 
and  famines  that  ever  desolated  humanity. 
All  the  lfoubley"and  all  the  crimes  ever 


JERVES'8  VIEWS  ON  MATRIMONY.        61 

'  ^rd  of  con  Id  be  traced,  directly  or  in- 
directly, to  some  woman.  j>^^ 

*^And  all  the  charities  and  all  the 
good  works  in  the  world  originate  with 
some  other  woman."  :     % 

'  "  If  it  were  not  for  women,  there 
would  be  no  need  of  charities;  and 
scarcely  any  for  good  works.  If  women 
do  anything  for  charities,  it  is  no  more 
^an  they  ought  to  do,  and  indeed  no 
more  than  they  should  be  compelled  to 
do,  so  far  as  they  can."  t    i  * 

"Don't  they  make  the  best  nurses  in 
theworld?"      ^  --.^-^^'^m^m{ 

"  No,  not  the  best.  If  a  man  has  a 
trifling  ailment,  he  may  trust  to  a  female 
doctor,  or  a  female  nurse,  but  as  soon  as 
he  is  very  sick  he  sends  for  a  man." 

"I  don't  know  much  about  female 
doctors  myself.  I  reckon  there  are  good 
Ones.  Any  way,  t^ere  are  thousands  of 
things  that  women  can  do  vastly  better 
than  men." 


62  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER, 

"  What,  for  instance  ?  If  you  want  a 
good  cook,  you  must  have  a  man  ?  if  you 
want  your  coat  well  made,  it  must  be  sewed 
by  a  man;  a  Chinaman  will  do  up  your 
shirt  better  than  any  laimdress ;  and  your 
men  keep  your  decks  cleaner  than  any 
Woman's  kitchen.  Even  women  them- 
selves, if  they  want  their  dresses  nicely  fit- 
ted, must  go  to  a  tailor.  I  suppose  women 
are  a  part  of  the  scheme  of  creation,  but  it 
seems  to  me  the  universe  might  have  gone 
on  better  under  some  other  arrangement."  ' 
"  Perhaps  I'm  inclined  to  be  modest,  but 
I  don't  know  that  I  could  run  the  universe 
any  better  than  the  present  authorities. 
Doubtless,  Providence  might  have  contrived 
a  plan  to  get  along  without  women,  but, 
now  that  we  have  them,  what  would  you 
do  with  them?"  -^^\-;^r^y' 'r■■^:':.y/- 

^^  In  respect  to  women,  I  don't  propose 
to  take  any  share  in  running  the  universe, 
myself.  On  general  principles,  T  think  the 
Chinese  plan  is  the  best  one." 


JERVES'S   VIEWS  ON  MATRIMONY.        68 

"  Drown  the  surplus  ?  '•   M  ^    >  ^ 

"Yes."  ^-v- v;-..,,.^^-:-/;--  .,"-  .v^.:-.-   --v-:H# 

f  "  It  is  not  a  very  humane  one."        •  -^^^^^ 

'   "'  Why  not,  if  it  reduces  the  aggregate  of 

human  suffering  ?  "    .  *fs 

"  If  all  the  suffering  comes  through 
women  —  doubtless,  the  more  you  drown, 
the  better.  I  shouldn't  like  to  have  a  hand 
in  it,  though.     And  I  don't  believe  in  it." 

/^Then  adopt  the  old  plan  of  shutting 
them  all  up  and  educating  them  alike  — 
and  not  much  — dressing  them  alike,  and  not 
allowing  them  to  have  any  rank  or  hold 
any  property.  If  a  man  thought  he  would 
like  to  have  a  wife,  let  the  proper  authori- 
ties select  one  of  suitable  temper  and  dispo- 
sition, and  give  her  to  him."  ^  r^ 

«  What  if  he  didn't  like  her  ?  "  ^^ ; 

"  No  matter.  He  would  be  just  as  liable 
to  like  one  as  another."  -^;    :^ 

"  What  if  she  didn't  like  him,  and  didn't 
behave  herseK  ?  "  '  ^    ^^  wu^^^^^^^ 

"  Then    he    should  administer  personal 


64  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

chastisement  till  she  did.  I  met  a  man  in 
Sweden  once  who  formulated  the  whole 
plan  with  great  detail.  He  would  have 
pne  great  establishment  to  which  all  female 
children  should  be  sent  at  four  or  five  years 
old,  and  kept  mitil  some  man  wanted  a 
^ife,  and  then  one  should  be  taken  out  for 
him." 

"  I  think  that  is  a  project  that  has  been 
proposed  a  great  many  times." 

a  Which  only  shows  how  much  need  there 
is  for  something  of  the  sort." 
~  "  I  don't  doubt  it  was  a  very  fine  schemej^i 
Jerves,  but  I  don't  think  it  would  work. 
Your  friend  would  have  to  reorganize 
human  nature  itself,  before  he  could  reor^* 
ganize  society  on  his  plan."  .  ^^  ^ 

^'  So  I  told  him,  but  he  was  not  the  less 

enthusiastic  about  it^  and  thought  he  should 

eventually  get  some  community  to  adopt 
if  "    -' 

"I  should  want  to  move  out  of  that 
commxmity  at  once  if  I  lived  in  it." 


JEBVES'S  VIEWS  ON  MATBIMONY.        65 

At  this  stage  the  captain's  wife,  who  had 
for  some  time  thought  the  gentlemen  had 
smoked  and  talked  long  enough,  and  who 
was  anxious  to  have  her  revenge  at  the 
whist  table,  started  to  interrupt  them— • 
taking  Mrs.  Bates  with  her.  They  reached 
the  door,  but,  as  the  conversation  still  went 
on,  they  stopped  and  listened,  standing 
with  their  arms  about  each  other's  waists, 
while  the  captain  and  Jerves,  whose  backs 
were  turned  to  them,  went  on. 

"No,"  said  the  captain;  "there  are  a 
good  many  quite  irresistible  influences 
that  your  friend  did  not  take  into  his 
account." 

"  I  presume  there  are,"  said  Jerves. 

"  To  start  with,  I  don't  think  I  should 
like  to  have  somebody  else  select  a  wife  for 
me.  I  think  I  could  do  it  decidedly  better 
myself." 

His  wife  gave  Mrs.  Bates  a  squeeze 
that  nearly  took  her  breath  away,  -^^v 

"  You  are  one  of  the  lucky  ones^-_There 


1 

1 


1 


66  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

are  not  many  who  are  so  fortunate,  or 
who  make  so  good  a  selection  as  you/' 

-  "  That  is  so.  All  the  authorities  of  all 
the  establishments  that  ever  existed  couldn't 
have  chosen  me  a  better  wife  —  though  I 
say  it.     I  hope  I  am  sufficiently  thankful." 

'  Mrs.  Bates  felt  her  friend  tremble  and 
try  to  get  away,  but  she  held  on  and  drew 
her  more  closely  to  herself,  put  a  hand 
over  Tier  mouth,  and  kissed  her  softly,  while 
Jerves  continued.  ':  :c^^%^. 

"Truly,   captain,    you    have    abundant v 
reason,  but  you  must  confess  there  are  very 
few  so  lucky.     Your  wife  is  an  exception. 
There  may  be  a  good  many  more  like  her, , 
but  I  don't  thmk  it." 

^^^  "  Thank  you.  I  like  to  have  people  think 
well  of  her,  but  I  didn't  know  you  had  so 
good  an  opinion  of  her  as  that.  It  is 
lucky  she  don't  hear  you."v^        .  : 

"Wouldn't  it  condfuce  to  family  disci- 
pline ?  Never  mind  ;  I  won't  say  it  to  her 
face." 


JERVES'S  VIEWS  ON  MATRIMONY.        $7 

**  Please  don't,"  laughed  the  captain. 

K  he  had  not  heen  more  attentive  to 
the  striking  of  eight  bells  and  the  cry  of 
"All's  well"  than  to  anything  else  just 
then  he  might  have  heard  a  good  deal  of 
smothered  laughter  and  something  of  a 
scrimmage  behind  him.  But  Jerves  went 
on:  "You  must  admit  that,  with  their  whims, 
caprices,  vanity,  extravagance,  faithlessness, 
dishonesty,  and  all  that,  the  great  majority  of 
women  make  most  wretched  wives.  I  don't 
understand  how  men  get  along  with  them 
as  well  as  they  do.  fc  my  part,  I  don't 
want  anything  to  do  with  them.  I  will 
treat  them  respectfully  and  politely  when 
they  come  in  my  way,  but  that  is  all." 

"Don't  be  too  certain.  In  spite  of  your 
unfortunate  experience,  you  may  change 
your  mind  and  marry  one  of  them  yet. 
Because  one  woman  is  a  fool  and  another 
an  adventuress,  it  don't  prove  the  whole 
sex  to  be  such.  There  are  lots  of  good 
women  in  the  world,  and  it  is  quite  on  the 


68  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

cards  that  you  may  hit  on  as  great  a  treas- 
ure as  you  make  out  my  wife  to  be ;  and,  if 
you  do,  I  hope  you'll  marry  her.**       .^  ^ 

f^  No  J  sir,  thank  you,  not  I — not  if  the- 
Queen  of  Sheba  were  to  come  on  her  bended; 
knees  and  ask  me.     I   settled  that  point 
some  time  ago.     I  don't  blame  women  for 
marrying  when  they  can.    They  are  brought 
up  to  work  for  it  and  scheme  for  it,  and 
they  generally  have  something  to  gain  by 
it,  but  nine  men  out  of  every  ten  make^ 
nothing  but  absolute  fools  of  themselves  by 
marrying.     You  didn't,  as  it  happened."     - 
',   Mrs.  Bates  could  stand  this  kind  of  talk 
1^  longer.     There  were  tears  in  her  eyes, 
but   her  voice  was  firm  as  she  broke  m,^ 
"And    ninety-nine  women    out  of    eveiy 
hundred    make    themselves   ten  thousand 
times  fools  by  marrying.     Why  girls  should 
join   themselves   for  life   to    creatures  so 
utterly  brutal,  selfish,  and   treacherous   as^ 
the  great  majority  of  men,  almost  passes 
comprehension.     They  promise  to  love,  and 


JEBVSS'S  VLSW8  ON  MATRIMONY.        §f 

find  nothing  that  it  is  possible  to  love ;  to 
honor,  and  find  nothing  they  can  honor; 
to  obey,  and  find  obedience  an  abomination. 
What  wonder  is  it  that  women  should  be 
false  when  they  find  themselves  so  cheated  !'* 

"Oh,  Helen,  you  are  too  harsh;  you 
dQja't  mean  all  that"  —  and  the  captain  § 
wife  drew  the  lofty  head  down  to  her  shoul- 
der, and  gently  patted  the  wet  cheek. 

/^Perhaps  I  am  harsh,  but  I  have  good 
reason.  If  girls  woiild  be  content  to  be 
girls,  and  never  aspire  to  be  women,  thej 
would  be  far  happier." 

"Maybe  they  would,"  said  the  captain^ 
"  in  fact,  I  am  sure  they  would  after  a  while : 
for.  If  we  could  ''eep':>^  T^n  and  the  women 
apart  for  a  c  aple  ol  i^Ired  years  or  so, 
the  millennium  would  come.  But  we  can't 
do  it,  so  now  let's  go  and  have  some  whist. 
Jerves  and  I  have  talked  nonsense  long 
enough."  ^^.^/s    •.    bm'^-'.^  ''-■-'-■■■'■'  r  -:r.>'-.., ..,;;{ 

"  I  can  i^ell  you  I  don't  want  any  lailleiv-- 
nium  on  your  terms.    I  woul4  rather  have 


70  CBUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

my  good  maii  and  let  the  world  remain  as 
it  is>"  said  lis  wife,  as  she  drew  a  strong 
arm  about  her  waist  and  took  a  brown  hand 
in  hers  and  kissed  it.  "    <         fe 

And  so  they  went  into  the  saloon,  but 
.there  was  no  whist.  Mrs.  Bates  was  fatigued 
and  excited,  ^  Jerves  thought  he  should 
feel  the  better  for  another  pipe.  Both  were 
conscious  that  they  had  said  more  than  they 
intended,  and  more  chan  they  believed.  She 
lay  awake  awhile  trying  to  justify  herself 
for  using  so  strong  language,  and  recalling 
the  sorrowful  experiences  of  her  own 
married  life.  They  were  sad  enough,  cer- 
tainly ;  but  then  she  thought  of  the  captain 
and  his  wife,  and  of  her  kind  friend  Maria 
Watterson  and  her  husband,  and  of  her 
own  father  and  mother,  and  of  many 
others;  and  she  failed  to  find  so  many 
instances  of  entire  unhappiness  in  married 
life  as  even  she  had  thought.  Some  couples 
she  could  think  of  who  did  not  seem  well 
suited  to  each  other;  but — perhaps  they 


JERVES'8  VIEWS  ON  MATRIMONY.        71 

were  satisfied — she  did  not  know.     At  last 
she  fell  asleep.  W-'-&^'M^ 

Jerves's  reflections  did  not  trouble  him 
so  long.  Se  thought  he  had  spoken  well, 
and,  if  he  had  abused  women  more  than 
they  deserved,  it  did  not  much  matter, 
though  he  was  sorry  he  had  hurt  Mrs. 
Bates's  feelings.  What  he  said  was  near 
enough  to  the  truth,  any  way.  Indeed,  he 
remembered  Mrs.  Bates's  words,  and  the 
fire  and  spirit  with  which  she  had  spoken 
them,  much  more  clearly  than  he  did  his 
own.:^.-•::  ''":;...;.    .,_.  \ 


ft       ri  ■ 


'■"^. 


Jn^A   r:. 


CHAPTER  V.        ;        N  ; 

MRS.   BATES   APOLOGIZES, 

When  lie  returned  from  his  douche  the 
next  morning,  he  noticed  Mrs.  Bates  sitting 
on  the  top  of  the  saloon.  It  was  too  early 
for  her,  he  thought ;  she  should  not  be  there, 
the  dampness  yvas  not  gone  out  of  the  air, 
and  the  decks  were  wet.  It  was  not  pru- 
dent for  an  invalid.  He  dressed  quickly 
and  went  out  with  a  cup  of  coffee  to  her. 
She  declined  coffee  so  early  in  the  morning, 
so  he  brought  her  a  bowl  of  beef -tea  w^ich 
she  drank  with  a  relish.  This  again  was 
only  reasonable  politeness.  He  got  a  rug 
and  made  her  put  it  around  her  and  under 
her  feet,  and  they  watched  the  sunrise. 
Suddenly  she  said, ''  Mr.  Jerves,  I  am  afraid 

I  spoke  too  strongly  last  night.     Men  are 

72 


MRS.  BATES  APOLOGIZES.  73 

not  all  so  bad  as  I  represented  them.  I 
know  many — yes,  very  many,  husbands 
who  are  good  and  kind  and  faithful,  and 
their  wives  are  happy  women.  I  ask  your 
pardon.  Your  abuse  of  'v^'omen  angered 
and  excited  me.  All  do  not  deserve  it. 
There  may  be  some  who  do.  You  were 
cruel  and  unreasonable,  but,  all  the  same, 
I  was  unjust  also.  My  own  married  life 
was  unhappy  —  perhaps  you  know  it ;  but 
all  women  are  not  so  unfortunate  as  I.  But 
you  spoke  shamefully  of  us.  You  woul3 
condemn  your  own  mother.  You  were  not 
gentlemanly ;  you  were  xiot  even  manly.*' 
-  She  had  commenced  very  quietly,  and 
Jerves  thought  she  was  going  to  be  quite 
gracious  and  humble,  and  he  was  glad  he 
had  not  withdrawn  anything  he  had  said. 
But,  when  she  accused  him  of  being  cruel 
and  unmanly,  he  was  angry,  for  he  could 
not    help   admitting  to   himself    she   was 

right.     However,  he  was  not  going  to  be 
put  down.  .^--^^^^^^^--^^. 


74  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

"  I  spoke  of  women  as  I  know  them  — 
that  is,  most  of  them.  Of  course,  all  are  not 
like  that.  I  see  a  great  many  who,  I 
think,  are  not  at  all  like  it."  That  was 
taking  back  a  little  too  much ;  so  he  added : 
"  But  I  have  seen  very  many  who  seemed 
to  me  just  like  it  —  quite  as  bad  as  I  rep^ 
resented  them.'V  v 

He  felt  rather  ashamed  of  himself,  but 
could  not  make  up  his  mind  to  be  so  fairly 
open  and  generous  as  she,  and  ask  to  be 
forgiven  for  his  outrageous  expressions.      p 

"I  will  confess  my  language  was  too 
sweeping.  The  current  of  my  talk  carried 
me  too  far.  You  could  not  think  I  would 
include  such  women  as  the  captain',  wife 
and  yourself  in  any  such  remarks." 

. "  Please  do  not  mention  me,  Mr.  Jerves ; 
you  do  not  know  whether  I  ought  to  be  in- 
cluded or  not,"  interposed  Mrs.  Bates.  She 
ought  not  to  have  added  these  last  words, 
for  they  gave  him  a  chance  to  say  that 
until  he  knew  h^  more  he  certainly  should 


MBS.  BATES  APOLOGIZES.  75 

not  include  her  in  Ms  condemnation  of  the 
sex.  She  laughed  quite  heartily,  and  said  : 
"  Well,  if  I  withdraw  my  extravagant  and 
unfai'  language,  and  you  exclude  from 
condemnation  all  who  do  not  deserve  it,  I 
don't  see  but  justice  will  be  done  all  round, 
and  the  world  go  on  as  before." 

He  was  tempted  to  say  that  he  con- 
demned all  whom  he  did  not  know  or 
believe  to  deserve  to  be  excluded,  but,  on 
the  whole,  thought  he  would  not  be  quite 
so  ungracious,  and  so  they  went  to  break- 
fast, she  as  calm  and  stately  as  ever,  and 
he  still  bitter  and  rather  angrily  pulling  his 
moustache.         • 

At  breakfast  the  captain  chaffed  Jerves 
about  his  friend's  project,  and  made  him 
explain  it  to  the  ladies,  who  had  not  heard 
that  part  of  the  conversation.  Jerves  ex- 
plained it  in  all  its  details. 

^'  Why,  the  man  was  simply  a  Ixmatic  — 
that  is  all,"  said  the  captain's  wife.       -^^^ 

"Now,  Jerves,"  said  the  captain,  "  I  be- 


76  CRUI81S  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

lieve  the  whole  tiling  is  an  invention  of 
your  own/got  tip  lo  give  us  somethmg  to 
talk  about."  ^  '  f 

i  "  Not  at  all.  The  author  of  the  scheme 
was  a  philosopher,  and  something  of  a 
statesman,  a  scholar,  and  what  is  more, 
captain,  a  mathematician  —  which  shows 
that  /  had  nothing  to  do  with  it." 
:  "No  wonder,  then,  he  got  mixed  up. 
He  had  probably  studied  so  much  he  had 
no  sense  left."  A#r 

"  He  was  only  a  bit  moon-struck,"  coolly 
remarked  Mrs.  Bates;  ^^  probably  some 
girl  had  jilted  him." 

"  And  well  he  deserved  it  —  the  silly  old 
thing,"  put  in  the  captain  s  wife. 
1    "He  should  have  been   given  the  ^-^ 
wife  out  of  the  establishment/'  remaiked 
the  captain. 

"  And  the  young  girls  should  have  had 
the  selection  of  her,"  added  Mrs.  Bates. 

"  For  a  suitable  match  they  would  have 
had  to  give  him  an  idiot;  and^  as  idiots  are 


MRS.   BATES  APOLOGIZES.  ^^ 

not  allowed  to  marry,  t  am  afraid  the  poor 
man  would  have  had  to  remain  single  to 
the  end  of  his  days,"  said  the  captain.  - 
And  so  it  appeared  that  the  project  of 
the  man  they  persisted  in  designating  as 
"  Jerves's  friend "  found  no  favor  in  that 
company,  though  this  was  not  by  any 
means  the  last  Jerves  heard  of  the  scheme. 
Then  they  dispersed  to  their  various  avoca- 
tions, the  captain  and  Mrs.  Bates  to  arrang- 
ing the  battery  for  the  electric  shutter,  his 
wife  to  her  sewing,  Harry  to  a  story-book, 
and  little  Bobby  superintending  the  whole. 
Jerves  made  an  excellent  sketch  of  the 
old  sailor  who  had  asked  for  another  song^ 
and  Mrs.  Bates  admired  it  much,  and 
asked  permission  to  make  a  copy  in  water- 
color.  Jerves  consented,  of  course,  wonder- 
ing whether  she  could  paint  better  than  he 
Could.  She  said  she  had  a  box  of  colors 
somewhere,  if  she  could  only  find  it ;  but 
^^  Jerves  insisted  on  bringing  out  his  complete 
outfit  of  colors,  and  she  soon  made  a  very  ef- 


78  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

fective  picture  of  it.  Then  she  made  a  couple 
of  sketches  of  sea  and  clouds.  She  could 
paint  the  skies  and  water  and  atmospheric 
effects  better  than  he,  while  he  excelled  in 
figures  and  detailed  drawings.  She  pro- 
posed to  make  a  sketch  or  two  for  herself 
every  day,  so  that  the  series  should  form  a 
history  of  the  voyage  and  illustrate  her 
diary.  This  prompted  him  to  mention  his 
original  plan  of  an  illustrated  log-book,  and 
she  quite  approved  of  it.  He  confessed  he 
had  done  nothing  about  it  yet,  and  she 
recommended  him  to  begin  at  once,  and 
even  offered  to  supply  notes  from  her  own 
journal,  which  she  had  kept  to  read  to  her 
little  scholars  when  she  should  go  back 
to  teaching  again.  At  noon  the  captain 
allowed  him  to  take  an  observation,  and  he 
worked  it  up  correctly,  and  made  out  the 
ship's  run  within  five  miles  of  the  mate's, 
^  which  pleased  him  greatly.  ^  In  the  after- 
noon he  took  Mrs.  Bates's  journal  and 
wrote  up  several  pages,  and  inserted  some 


MRS,   BATES  APOLOGIZES.  79 

sketches  and  photographs,  and  made  quite 
a  good  beginning.  Mrs.  Bates  ignored 
their  little  dispute,  and  her  manner  was 
quite  what  it  had  been.  They  were  neither 
more  nor  less  intimate  than  they  had  been 

'three  days  before.     It  is  likely  he  would  ^ 
almost  have  forgotten  it,  if  the  captain  had 
not  stirred  the  whole  affair  up  by  more  of 
his  chaflfing  as  Jerves  and  Mrs.  Bates  were 
at  work  with  their  paints.  : 

"Just  look  at  him  now,  Carrie.  No 
one  would  suppose  such  a  pleasant,  ami- 
able, harmless-looking  young  man  as 
that  could  be  so  savage  as  to  abuse 
women  as  he  did  last  night." 

im^^^Andy  Mrs.  Bluson,  would  any  one 
imagine  that  an  experienced  mariner  and 

^man  of  family,  who  had  received  such  a 
rating  as  his  whole  sex  got,  would  ever 
wish  to  refer  to  the  incident  again?" 
retorted  Jerves.  ^  ^^^ 

"  Now,  captain,"  said  Mrs.  Bates,  "  will 
you  please  lei  Chat  matter  drop?      Mr. 


^  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

Jerves  and  I  mutually  made  amendeg 
honorables  this  morning,  before  breakfast, 
and  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  said/' 

"  Pid  vou  both  withdraw  all  your  imr 
liandsome  remarks?" 
}  JfNot  quite,  but  we  agreed  to  with- 
draw all  that  was  not  true,  and  that 
p.11  that  was  true  should  remaiu  a^  tvm 
as  ever  it  was."  - 

^'  Very  kind  and  generous  of  you,  I 
am  sure.  Nobody  could  expect  any- 
thing more  than  that  — from  a  woman. 
But    you    owe    me    an    apology    person^ 

ally-"  -..■  '-'.'   ..   :•  -■^•;|:-■^^^.-;. 

.  "  Do  I  ?    Then  I'U  make  it  ^ow  whii^ 

I  an>  b  the  mooa.    HI  ^d  angling 

about  Captain  Bluson  that  was  not  true, 

^  hereby  confess  that  it  was  entirely  false 

and  erroneous."  t^ 

"Thank  you,,!  don't  think  I  ever 
heard  a  handsomer  apology.  It  is  quite 
ancient." 

"Now    I    think^   to    piake    ey^y thing 


MBS.  BATES  APOLOGIZES.  $% 

square,  Mr.  Jerves  owes  me  an  apology," 
said  the  captain's  wife.    "       ^ 

"  Well,  no,  Carrie,"  answered  Mrs, 
Bates.  "  On  the  whole,  I  don't  think  he 
does.  If  I  were  you,  I  don't  think  I 
would  ask  one." 

-  Jerves  never  could  tell  what  it  was 
amused  those  two  ladies  so  much,  hut 
he  said  he  would  not  be  outdone  by  Mrs. 
Bates,  and,  if  he  had  said  anything  about 
Mrs.  Bluson  that  was  untrue,  her  husband 
should  apologize.  # 

So  Jerves's  good-humor  was  quite 
restored,  and  the  day,  that  had  begun 
with  such  signs  of  a  storm,  proved  the 
pleasantest  he  had  had.  After  dinner, 
jirhen  the  crew  were  dancing  and  sin^ 
ing  and  skylarking,  he  went  forward  and 
sang  and  told  anecdotes,  and  made  him- 
self a  prime  favorite.  He  had  a  bout 
with  the  boxing  gloves  iritfe  the  third 
mate,  and,  finding  he  could  more  than 
hold  his  own,  he  allowed  himself  to  be 


82  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

slightly  beaten  for  the  sake  of  that 
officer's  reputation  with  the  crew.  The 
captain  tanked  him  for  his  considera- 
tion. A  little  music  in  the  saloon  closed 
the  day.      y 

Saturday  was  pleasant  again,  and 
everybody  was  occupied.  Mrs.  Bates 
made  two  more  sketches,  and  afterwards 
translated  a  little  German  story  to  amuse 
the  children.  She  was  never  idle.  Th^ 
Sunday  came  again,  and  there  were 
services  ard  singing  as  before,  and  a 
good  deal  more  singing  after  the  service. 

They  had  now  been  out  nearly  two 
V7eeks,  and  aiready  the  captain's  wife 
noticed  the  im.provement  in  her  friend's 
health,  and  rejoiced  at  it.  The  color  had 
begim  to  come  back  to  her  cheeks,  and 
she  could  walk  about  ohe  decks  freely; 
her  voice  was  stronger,  her  eyes  were 
brighter,  and  the  signs  of  pain  and  weaK- 
ness  about  her  mouth  were  lessening. 
Harry  and  Bobby  simply  adored  her,  and 


MBS.  BATES  APOLOGIZES.  88 

were  her  devoted  servants  and  watch- 
dogs. 'Next  to  a  romp  with  their  father, 
they  enjoyed  sitting  by  her  side  while 
she  read  them  stories  and  sang  childish 
8ongs.  "■■^f^: 


'      -T     -■.'■'■t    '■:  • 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    PERILS    OF   THE    SEA. 


Monday  morning  bad  weather  came 
on,  and  soon  became  a  gale  that  lasted 
three  days.  On  the  second,  the  ship  was 
hove  to.  Nothing  could  be  done  out-of- 
doors.  A  few  moments  of  sunlight  gave 
Jerves  a  chance  to  photograph  the  sea, 
when  the  wind  tore  off  the  crests  of  the 
waves,  and  seemed  to  flatten  them  down ; 
but  most  of  the  time  the  rain  poured 
heavily.  It  was  a  time  of  discomfort, 
but  borne  with  patience.  They  had  be- 
come accustomed  to  the  howling  of  the 
wind,  and  the  creaking  of  timbers,  and 
were  not  alarmed.  Thursday  the  wind  ' 
died  away  to  a  dead  calm.  The  rolling 
of  the  ship  on  the  swell  was  more  wear- 
ing  and  tedious   than   the   gale,   and   all 


THE  PERILS  OF  THE  8EJL  ft$ 

were  glad  when  a  light  breeze  sprang 
up.  At  sunset  all  were  on  deck  watch- 
ing the  clouds,  when  one  of  the  lookout 
men  reported  something  in  sight.  As 
they  came  nearer,  it  proved  to  be  a 
wreck  with  the  stump  of  one  mast  only 
standing.  It  soon  became  too  dark  to 
distinguish  more.  Orders  were  given  to 
stand  by  and  wait  for  daylight,  and 
lights  were  burned  occasionally  to  let 
those  on  board,  if  any  there  were,  know 
that  they  were  not  abandoned.  The 
Ajax'a  passengers  slept  but  little,  and 
not  a  soul  on  board  of  her  but  was  on 
deck  with  the  first  glimmer  of  daylight. 
As  soon  as  the  wreck  could  be  sighted^ 
sail  was  made  for  it,  but  the  air  was 
light  and  ahead.  "There's  some  life 
on  board,  Mr.  Rollins;  there's  a  distress 
signal  flying." 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  first  mate,  "but 

I  reckon  not  much.      The    wreckage    m 

tilongsi3€,  ^ou  see,  sir.    They  would  have 


86  CBTTIS^  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

cut  it  away  if  they  could.  It's  a  wonder 
it  hasn't  punched  a  hole  in  her  before 
this/'  5:. 

"I  see  one  person  on  board,"  ex- 
claimed the  captain.  And  presently  the 
mate  added,  "I  think  it's  a  woman,  sir, 
and  I  don't  see  any  others."  #"  # 

'  Another  half-hour  of  silent  watching 
and  no  further  sign  of  life  on  the  wreck. 
The  cook  was  ordered  to  give  the  men 
their  breakfasts  early,  and  the  passengers 
hurriedly  ate  whatever  they  could  get  hold 
of  first.  The  captain  called  Mr.  Rollins  to 
the  deck  and  quietly  gave  his  directions. 
There  was  no  excitement  except  among 
the  passengers. 

"Is  the  quarter  boat  all  ready,  Mr. 
Bcws?"  *? 

"All  ready,  sir." 

"  Swing  her  out,  and  tell  off  your  men." 

"Ay,  ay,  sir,"  and  the  boatswain's 
whistle  was  heard,  and  the  boat  quickly 
hung  at  the  davits.     Another  whistle,  and 


TBE  PERILS  OF  THE  8EA.  87 

the  boat*s  crew  was  on  board,  with  Rollins 
in  the  stem.  Jerves  exchanged  a  hurried 
word  with  him,  and  both  looked  at  the 
captain,  who  answered  the  look  with  a 
nod,  and  Jerves  took  a  place  beside  the 
mate.  The  ship  came  slowly  up  into  the 
wind,  the  orders  "Lower  away"  and  "Let 
fall"  were  soon  given,  and  the  boat  was 
away  to  the  wreck.  ^     ? 

I  It  was  not  a  very  long  pull;  and  in  half 
an  hour  the  boat  was  within  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  of  the  wreck,  and  to  leeward  of  it. 
When  they  came  quite  near,  the  mate  be- 
thought himself  and  suddenly  steered  away 
to  make  a  long  sweep  round  to  windward, 
muttering  to  himself  as  he  did  so,  "  Looks 
to  me  like  a  case  of  Yellow  Jack,"  and  he 
set  his  teeth  together,  and  his  eyebrows 
came  down,  and  the  good-natured  face 
grew  hard.  The  change  of  direction  sur- 
prised the  boat's  crew,  and  they  looked 
about,  and  their  strokes  were  irregular  till 
a  quick,  sharp  "  What  are  you  doing,  there  f 


88  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

Steady,  all!''  recalled  them  to  their  duty. 
Coming  nearer,  they  saw  no  one  on  board 
but  the  woman,  who  swung  her  arms  about, 
and  tried  to  hail  them  but  could  not.  They 
found  the  wreck  to  be  that  of  a  German 
bark,  main  and  mizzen  masts  gone  over- 
board, and  floating,  with  sails  all  set,  along- 
side. "  You  had  better  not  come  aboard," 
said  Rollins;  "very  likely,  there's  yellow 
fever  on  board.'*  "Go  ahead,"  was  ail 
Jerves's  answer. 

It  was  difficult  to  get  on  board  for  the 
wreckage,  but  running  under  the  bowsprit 
they  found  a  rope  hanging,  by  which  Jerves 
and  the  mate  hauled  themselves  up,  hand 
over  hand.     Telling  crew  to  back  oflE 

two  ship's-lengths'  ^  it,  they  descended 
to  the  deck. 

The   sight   on   d  as   a  fearful  one. 

Three  dead  bodies  ^  lying  about,  and 
in  the  forecastle  they  nd  two  men  alive, 
of  whom  one  was  delirio\        The  decks  were 


encumbered  with  fallen  ,   ax^  anJ  rigging, 


^' 


THE  PERILS  OF  THE  SEA.  89 

the  galley  was  overthrown,  and  with  water- 
butts  and  all  the  movable  deck-hamiJef 
lying  about  in  what  seemed  inextricable 
confusion.  Going  aft,  they  met  the  cap- 
tain's wife  trying  to  drag  the  almost  life- 
less body  of  her  husband  out  of  the  cabin. 
Seeing  a  boat  coming,  the  poor  woman  had 
thought  they  were  to  be  taken  off  the 
wreck  at  once.  Jerves  ^ould  speak  some 
German,  but  could  make  but  little  of  her 
incoherent  talk.  He  managed  to  understand, 
however,  that  the  bark  was  from  the  West 
Indies,  with  a  cargo  of  sugar ;  that,  when 
two  days  out,  one  of  the  men  was  taken 
sick,  and,  two  days  after,  two  more.  These 
all  died,  and  their  bodies  were  thrown  over- 
board. The  next  day,  the  first  mate  was 
taken  sick,  and  died  in  a  few  hours,  and 
the  same  night  the  second  mate  and  four 
others  had  stolen  a  boat  and  run  away. 
After  that,  the  captain  fell  sick,  and  for 
three  davs  his  wife  and  the  two  men  left 
alive  had  worked  the  sl^£,  trying  to  steer 


-\ 


90  CBUI8E  OF  A   WOMAJir  HATER. 

no^h  as  well  as  they  could,  and  hoping  to 
fall  in  with  some  vessel.  The  two  men 
had  been  sick,  but  were  recovering  until 
hurt  by  falling  spars  in  the  gale  of  the  day 
before,  which  had  dismasted  the  bark.     -* 

The  mate  of  the  Ajax  had  not  waited 
to  hear  all  this,  but,  as  soon  as  he  learned 
enough  of  the  facts,  called  the  boat's  crew 
within  talking  distance,  and  gave  them 
orders  to  report  what  he  had  learned  to 
the  captain,  and  ask  for  further  instructions. 
He  tried  the  pumps,  and,  finding  no  water, 
told  them  to  report  that  the  bark  appeared 
to  be  tight.  The  woman  cried,  and  begged 
piteously  that  she  and  her  husband  might 
be  taken  off.  Mr.  Rollins  would  neither 
take  her,  nor  go  himself,  nor  let  Jerves  go, 
nor  indeed  did  Jerves  propose  going.  Both 
knew  perfectly  well  the  danger  they  were 
in,  but  had  no  intention  of  carrying  yellow 
fever  from  the  infc3cted  vessel  to  the  Ajax/ 

Th  3  boat  gone,  both  set  to  work  and 
made  the  captain  of  the  bark  as  comforta- 


*/ 


THE  PERILS  OF  THE  SEA.  91 

ble  as  they  could,  and  after  him  the  two 
men,  of  whom  one  had  an  arm  and  two 
ribs  broken,  and  the  other  a  bruise  on  the 
head.  Though  slightly  delirious,  he 
appeared  to  be  recovering  from  the  fever, 
and  not  badly  hurt.  This  done,  they  cut 
away  the  fallen  masts,  which  momentarily 
threatened  to  stave  in  the  bark's  side. 
They  worked  and  talked  together  like 
brave  men  who  had  taken  their  lives  in 
their  hands.  The  captain  was  quiet; 
whether  alive  or  dead,  they  did  not  know. 
His  wife  was  bathing  his  face  and  moan- 
ing. Jerves  watched  her  and  remembered 
the  hard  things  he  had  said  about  women  a 
few  nights  ago.  -  .  ^^  .^ 

Presently  the  mate  saw  a  manoeuvre  on 
board  the  Ajax  that  told  him  at  once  the 
captain's  intentions.  He  saw  a  larger 
boat  swung  out,  and  a  heavy  hawser  handed 
into  it.  :  ^^ 

a^^You  and  1  are  to  have  a  heavy  job, 
Mr.  Jerves,"  he  said.  ^  h^  t 


.  y 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

"What  is  it?"  .     .,f 

ii  "  We  are  to  take  care  of  these  sick  peo- 
ple, and  steer  this  ship  into  Bermuda." 
"  How  do  you  know  all  that?  "  ,,^, 

"  Do  you  see  that  hawser  ?  It  means 
that  we  are  to  be  taken  in  tow.  The  Ajax 
will  neither  have  yellow  fever  taken  on 
board  nor  abandoned  in  mid-ocean.  We 
are  within  three  or  four  days'  sail  of  Bermu- 
da, and  you  or  I  will  not  go  on  board  the 
Ajax  again  till  we  get  there." 
.  "  Does  the  captain  expect  us  two  to 
nurse  these  sick  and  steer  the  bark  also  ?  " 
^,  "Certainly,  if  necessary.  And  quite 
right  he  is.  Here  are  six  of  us  living.  If 
he  took  us  on  board,  we  should  be  liable  to 
carry  infection  to  the  whole  ship's  com- 
pany. Once  we  get  to  Bermuda,  he  will 
hand  the  bark  over  to  the  proper  authori- 
ties, and,  with  a  little  extra  precaution,  you 
and  I  will  be  all  right.  It  is  hard  lines  on 
a  passenger,  I  admit,  but  for  me  it  is  only 
in  the  way  of  my  duty,". 


-•  -i*-  "i.:-i"C".^'' '*■ 


M 


TItS  PEBIL8  OF  THE  8EA.  93 

"  And,  now  that  I  am  here,  it  is  in  the 
way  of  my  duty  also.  Say  what  you  want 
done,  and  depend  on  me  to  the  best  of  my 
ability.  I'm  not  a  seaman,  but  I'll  do  what 
I  can." 

^^  That's  the  talk.  The  captain  will  send 
ns  food,  and  medicines,  and  disinfectants. 
We  will  do  the  best  we  know  how.  I've 
been  through  yellow  fever  twice  myself. 
It  is  barely  possible  he  may  send  us  a  man 
or  two.  He  won't  unless  they  volunteer, 
so  long  as  we  can  do  the  work  ourselves." 

^'  All  right.     I'm  with  you/' 

They  spread  pieces  of  torn  sails  over  the 
captain   and  his  wife  and  the  two  men. 

Jerves  made  some  splints  with  an  axe,  and 

* 

tore  up  a  pillow-case  for  bandages,  and  set 
the  broken  arm.  He  had  been  too  much  of 
an  athlete  at  college  not  to  have  seen 
broken  arms  and  ribs  before.  The  man 
with  the  bruised  head  seemed  to  be  coming 
round  all  right,  but  was  very  weak.  All 
the   cooked  provisions  had    been  washed 


94  CBUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB. 

overboard.     They  opened   the   cabin  win- 
dows and  let  the  air  through. 

The  Ajax  had  all  this  time  been  work- 
ing up  to  windward  of  the  bark.  As  she 
passed  astern,  the  small  boat  came  off  again, 
bringing  supplies  of  canned  and  freshly 
cooked  provisions,  disinfectants,  and  medi- 
cines, and  the  book  of  directions  usually 
carried  on  board  vessels. 

After  the  ship  had  worked  up  as  near  as 
was  prudent,  a  boat  came  o£E  with  a  haw- 
ser, as  the  mate  had  foreseen.  One  man 
also  came,  a  negro,  so  seasoned  in  the  cane- 
swamps  of  Cuba  as  to  be  fever-proof.  The 
message  from  the  captain  was  that  he 
should  not  send  any  more  help  unless  they 
called  for  it.  There  was  no  need  to  say 
more ;  Mr.  Rollins  knew  his  duty,  and 
could  be  trusted  to  do  it.  In  a  short  time 
the  bark  was  in  tow  of  the  ship,  and 
headed  for  Bermuda,  the  mate,  Jerves,  and 
the  negro  taking  two-hour  tricks  at  the 
wheal.    A  light  line  was  also     gged,  by 


THE  PERILS  OF  THE  SEA.  95 

which  letters  or  small  articles  could  be  sent 
from  one  vessel  to  the  other  in  case  of 
need.  They  made  the  negro  bring  the 
bedding  from  cabin  and  forecastle  and 
throw  it  overboard.  Then  they  closed  all 
the  doors  and  windows  and  fumigated  both 
places  thoroughly.  The  captain  and  his 
wife  slept,  one  from  the  exhaustion  of  the 
fever,  the  other  worn  out  with  fatigue  and 
watching.  All  the  sick  were  well  sheltered 
with  the  torn  sails. 


';*(••• 


•  •■As 


-?^t>-'-;r^' 


CHAPTER  Vn. 


THE   BRUNA. 


On  board  the  ship,  little  was  done  but 
watch  the  bark  and  wonder  what  was 
being  done  oi  board.  After  the  excite- 
ment of  the  morning,  all  were  very  quiet» 
The  day  wore  on  and  so  did  the  night, 
and  then  two  more  days  and  nights.  The 
wind  continued  light,  and  slow  progress 
was  made.  The  mate  got  some  small  sails 
on  the  stumps  of  the  masts.  They  might 
be  of  service  in  case  bad  weather  should 
come  on,  so  that  the  bark  had  to  be  cast 
off.  The  captain  sent  a  message  of  ap- 
proval, and  directions  what  to  do  in  case 
he  should  signal  them  to  let  go.  On  the 
fourth  day,  about  noon,  the  lookout  re- 
ported  another   wreck    on  tha    starboard 

bow.    With  the  glass  she  was  seen  to  be 

96 


THIS  BRUNA.  97 

a  large  British  steamer,  masts  and  part  of 
her  smoke-stack  gone,  and  rudder  disabled. 
So  much  could  be  discerned  as  she  rolled 
'  in  the  trough  of  the  sea.  As  she  showed 
signals  of  distress,  the  Ajax  bore  down 
towards  her,  shortened  sail,  and  waited  for 
a  boat  that  was  seen  coming.  Presently 
her  first  officer  came  on  board  and  reported 
her  to  be  the  Bruna,  from  Glasgow  for 
New  Orleans.  She  had  been  damaged  in 
the  same  gale  as  the  bark,  and  had  lost 
masts,  rudder,  all  spare  spars,  and  all  boats 
but  one.  Such  temporary  rudder  as  they 
could  arrange  had  also  been  carried  away, 
and  they  were  now  trjdng'  to  steer  her  by 
means  of  chains  hung  over  the  stem,  of 
which  they  had  not  enough  for  the  pur- 
pose. Her  engines  were  in  good  condition. 
Seeing  the  Ajax  towing  a  dismantled  bark, 
the  steamer's  captain  had  thought  the  Ajcet 
might  be  glad  to  get  rid  of  her,  and  pro- 
posed to  take  her  in  tow  himself,  thus 
using  her  as  a  rudder  by  which  to  steer 


98  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB. 

his  own  vessel  to  New  Orleans.  The  Ajax, 
however,  having  towed  her  so  far,  was  not 
mclined  to  give  her  np'so  feaffly.  The  hark 
and  cargo  were  valuable,  and  if  inciden- 
tally to  saving  the  lives  the  property  also 
were  saved,  there  might  be  a  good  bit  of 
salvage  to  be  earned.  So  the  captain  would 
not  give  her  up.  The  officer  then  proposed 
to  tow  both  vessels  to  Savannah,  but  to  this 
the  captain  of  the  Ajax  would  not  agree 
either.  He  was  within  two.  days'  sail  of 
Bermuda  where  he  could  properly  leave 
the  bark  and  her  sick.  Weather  permit- 
ting, the  steamer  might  tow  both  to  Ber- 
muda, but  to  Savannah  the  Ajax  should 

This  arrangement  passed  the  officer's 
powers  to  conclude,  and  he  returned  to 
the  steamer  for  instructions,  but  quickly 
came  back  with  a  proposal  to  purchase  the 
bark  from  the  AjaXy  but,  the  captain  of  the 
bark  being  still  alive  and  nominally  in 
command,  the  proposition  was  promptly 


THE  BTtUNA.  90 

rejected.  The  officer  then  had  the  hardi- 
hood to  suggest  that  the  captam  of  the  bark 
was  not  in  a  condition  to  make  any  objec- 
tion to  a  transfer,  and  that  his  wishes  need 
not  be  consulted.  The  only  answer  to  this 
was  the  alternative  of  leaving  the  ship 
instatntly  or  being  thrown  overboard,  and 
^^  Square  away,  Mr.  Bows,"  came  from  the 
quarter-deck  in  a  tone  of  voice  that  Mr. 
Bows  rather  liked  to  hear  once  in  a  while, 
but  not  too  often.  Mr.  Bows  was  a  good 
seaman,  but  he  had  his  faults,  and  once  or 
twice  in  his  life  he  had  heard  that  tone  of 
voice  when  he  did  not  like  it  at  all.  Just 
now  he  knew  it  only  meant  prompt  obedi- 
ence, and  woe  to  the  laggard,  and  that 
suited  him  precisely. 

The  yards  were  braced  round  before  the 
officer  was  fairly  over  the  side  of  the  ship, 
and  his  painte^  cast  off  before  he  was  in 
his  seat.  The  discomfited  officer  rowed 
away  a  short  distance,  when  an  idea  seemed 
to  strike  him,  and,  after  o  short  colloquy 


100  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  BATES. 

with  one  of  his  men,  he  turned  and  rowed 
towards  the  bark,    .m.-^  .,-,^^1'-^- 

Coming  alongside,  he  sprang  into  the 
main  chains  and  up  on  the  rail,  but  as  he 
was  stepping  on  deck  he  found  himself 
confronted  by  Mr.  Rollins,  with  a  belaying- 
pin  in  his  hand,  and  forbidden  to  come 
further.  •-.■...t.^f---;::-.:j:r 

"Are  you  master  of  this  bark?"  de- 
manded the  intruder,  ^^^^^^v^  'mfiM- 

"  I  am  in  charge  of  her  at  present.  Wluj»t 
do  you  want  ? "  ;;ya  -^ ■■■;-:  -^^-.w  u..;^rM0 

"  I  want  to  tow  her  to  Savannali." 

"The  bark  is  already  in  tow,  as  you 
know  very  well."     i^if    3  i^  y 

"  I  am  first  officer  of  yonder  steamer.  We 
have  lost  our  rudder  and  want  the  bark  to 
steer  us.  I'll  tow  you  to  Savannah  and 
give  you  £100." 

"  And  I  am  first  officer  of  yonder  ship, 
and  I  have  picked  up  the  bark  in  distress, 
and  I  propose  to  keep  her." 

Then,  if  you  are  not  her  captain,  I 


u 


JUtM^twiHw--"- 


THE  BnUNA.  101 

have  nothing  to  do  with  you.  I  want  to 
see  her  captain,"  and  he  made  a  movement 
to  come  on  deck.  ^jStop,  there/*  cried 
Rollins.  "If  I  am  not  captain,  I  am 
master.     Stop  where  you  are."  -^ 

*'I  tell  you  I  want  to  see  the  captain. 
Gret  out  of  my  way."  .?       -   ^  ri  ^i  ^ 

"  I  am  all  the  captain  you  will  see.  You 
have  no  busmess  here.     Get  off  this  ship." 

^'  I'll  get  off  when  I  am  ordered  by  the 
captain.  I'm  not  taking  orders  from  you. 
I  am  going  to  see  the  captain." 

'*  You'll  not  see  tte  captain,  and  you 
will  take  my  orders.  Get  off  this  ship 
quick,  if  you  know  what  is  best  for  you." 

Now  the  officer,  who  had  at  first  pre- 
tended to  take  Rollins  for  the  captain  of 
the  bark,  knew  his  rights  perfectly  well,  and 
had  no  intention  of  openly  exceeding  them, 
or  of  resorting  to  force.  He  had  secretly 
arranged  another  project,  and  all  his  talk 
was  only  to  give  time  for  it  to  be  carried 
out.     While  he  was  engaged  with  Rollins, 


102  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

one  of  his  men  had  climbed  on  board  by 
the  fore-chains,  and  attempted,  nnper- 
ceived,  to  cast  off  the  tow-line.  The  three 
vessels  were  quite  near  together,  and  his 
plan  was  to  get  the  bark  loose  from  the 
ship,  and,  before  the  Ajax  could  be  got 
round  to  pick  her  up  again,  he  would  get 
another  line  to  his  own  vessel,  and  make 
off  with  his  tow  faster  than  the  ship  could 
follow.  It  was  a  bold  project,  and  a  dan- 
gerous one,  but  he  thought  he  could  not 
be  proved  to  have  had  any  hand  in  getting 
the  bark  loose,  and,  once  loose,  it  would  be 
hard  to  say  he  had  not  as  good  a  right 
to  pick  her  up  as  the  Ajax.  All  he  had 
done  was  to  say  to  one  of  his  men,  "  Now 
if  that  hawser  should  happen  to  part,  we 
might  pick  up  the  bark  ourselves,"  know- 
ing his  man  would  understand  him.  He 
might  even  claun  the  loosening  of  the 
hawser  to  have  been  an  accident.  At  any 
rate,  the  weather  was  threatening,  the 
steamer  was  in  some  danger  of  founder- 


IggHilgggllgl 


THE  BBUNA.  108 

ing,  and  he  knewlas  captain  to  be  daring 
and  not  scrupulous.  He  would  run  some 
risks,  though  he  would  take  care  to  make 
them  as  light  as  he  could. 

The  negro  was  at  the  wheel,  and  Jerves 
was  taking  his  "watch  below"  in  the  form 
of  a  nap  on  a  plank,  with  his  head  on  a 
tackle  block  for  a  pillow,  when  he  was 
roused  by  the  voice  of  Rollins.  Itfsing 
quickly,  he  saw  a  strange  man  at  work  at 
the  hawser.  Rushing  forward,  he  was  just 
in  time  to  prevent  the  last  bight  from 
being  thrown  off.  Dealing  the  fellow  a 
blow  that  broke  his  jaw  and  sent  him  reel- 
ing and  stunned  against  the  bulwarks,  he 
secured  the  hawser  again  in  an  instant, 
and  then  seized  the  man  and  pinioned  his 
arms  round  the  windlass  before  he  had 
fairly  recovered  his  senses.       i   -  ^^ 

Hearing  the  noise,  two  more  men  came 
from  the  boat.     With  a  hand-spike  Jerves 
laid  one  of  them  senseless  as  soon  as  his 
feet  touched  the  deck,  and  aimed  another 


104  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

blow  at  the  second,  who,  in  dodging  it, 
missed  his  f  joting,  and,  falling  overboard, 
striking  the  boat  as  he  fell,  was  with  dif- 
ficulty hauled  into  the  boat  by  the  remain- 
ing man.      l-«^^  -^^^^-^  ■...a,^^^..^-^:  ^:,-0€^^- 

The  officer  had  jumped  to  the  deck, 
receiving  a  blow  from  RoUins's  belaying-pin 
as  he  did  so,  and  was  running  to  the  help 
of  his  men  when  he  happened  to  think 
that  this  might  be  considered  very  like 
piracy  J  and  he  jumped  to  the  bulwarks  to 
get  into  his  boat,  but  Rollins  had  got  the 
same  idea  and  was  too  quick  for  him  and 
pulled  him  back.  Then  came  a  struggle, 
and  it  might  have  gone  hard  with  Rollins — 
for  the  fellow  was  now  desperate,  and 
making  every  effort  \o  escape — had  not 
the  German  captain's  wife  come  up  behind 
and  garroted  him,  which  soon  brought  him 
down.  Besides  the  man  who  had  fallen 
and  who  was  considerably  hurt,  only  one 
man  now  remained  in  the  boat,  which  he 
held  to  the  chains  with  a  boat-hook.  Jerves 


mmm 


THE  BBUNA.  105 

dealt  the  handle  of  the  boat-hook  a  blow 
with  the  hand-spike,  knocking  it  from  the 
man's  hands.  The  boat  drifted  away,  ex- 
tinguishing the  last  chance  of  the  officer's 
escape.  "-■"-'■^?  ^'^'     -^-'^^'  ■ 

All  this  passed  in  much  less  time  than  it 
takes  to  tell  it.  In  fact,  not  ten  minutes 
had  elapsed  since  the  order  "  Square  away  " 
had  been  given.  Nothing  of  the  affray 
could  be  seen  from  the  steamer,  owing  to 
the  high  bulwarks  of  the  bark ;  but  to  the 
captain  of  the  Ajax  it  was  evident  there 
was  some  trouble,  and  he  quickly  shortened 
sail  again,  and  sent  a  boat's  crew  of  sis 
men,  under  command  of  the  third  mate, 
Mr.  Bows  heartily  cursed  his  luck  at  being 
second  mate  this  voyage  instead  of  third. 
It  is  likely  he  would  have  changed  places 
with  any  man  in  the  ship  for  the  chance  of 
being  where  there  was  a  prospect  of  a 
fight. 

They  found  Mr.  Rollins  and  Jerves  in 
possession  of  the  bark,  two  men  bound,  ono 


106  CBUI8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB. 

to  the  windlass,  and  one  to  the  stump  of 
the  foremast,  and  the  first  officer  gloomily 
walking  the  deck.  The  fight  was  all  over, 
BO  that  Bows  would  have  had  no  pleasure 
at  all.  Two  men  were  left  on  board,  and 
the  three  prisoners  were  prc^^ptly  trans- 
ferred to  the  AjaXy  where  it^was  some  sat- 
isfaction to  Bows  to  put  them  all  ip  irons. 

By  this  time  the  boat  with  the  two  men 
had  reached  the  steamer,  and  explained  the 
condition  of  affairs.  The  position  of  the 
steamer  was  now  serious.  Night  was  soon 
coming  on,  the  barometer  falling,  the  first 
officer  and  two  men  gone,  and  another 
badly  hurt.  They  had  not  succeeded  in 
arranging  any  efficient  steering  apparatus, 
and,  if  a  gale  came  up,  the  steamer  would 
almost  certainly  founder.  If  she  could  be 
helped,  this  was  not  a  time  to  make  terms 
or  conditions.  Another  officer  was  accord- 
ingly sent  to  the  Ajax  to  see  what  could  be 
done,  with  orders  to  agree  to  anything  that 
was  likely  to  save  the  ship. 


THE  BRUNA.  107 

The  Scotch  captain,  who  a  couple  of 
hours,  ago  would  have  quibbled  on  a  £10 
note  in  payment  for  a  few  spars  from  the 
AjaXy  which  might  have  made  him  a 
rudder,  and  who  would  have  consented  to 
run  away  with  the  bark  rather  than  pay  it, 
was  now  in  a  situation  where  he  must  pay 
thousands,  or  risk  the  loss  of  ship,  cargo, 
and  lives.  Captain  Bluson  was  not  in  a 
good  humor  to  treat  with,  as  may  well  be 
supposed,  and  as  the  steamer  s  officer  soon 
discovered.  Three  propositions  were  laid 
before  him,  either  to  abandon  the  steamer, 
bringing  all  hands  on  board  the  Ajc^y  to 
be  landed  at  Bermuda;  to  take  the  ship 
and  bark  in  tow  to  Bermuda,  and  either  pay 
£2000,  or  else,  on  arrival  at  Bermuda,  have 
the  case  brought  before  the  admiralty  court, 
it  being  previously  agreed  that  the  salvage 
should  be  considered  as  from  total  loss  of 
the  steamer. 

The  second  proposition  was  accepted. 
To  pay  £2000  for  the  privilege  of  towing 


108  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

two  vessels  two  days  was  certainly  aggra- 
vating, but  less  so  than  either  of  the  other 
proposals,  and  the  captain  of  the  steamer 
knew  there  were  serious  and  complicated 
questions  of  insurance  involved,  and  that 
the  captain  of  the  Ajax  was  taking  a  con- 
siderable risk.  So,  while  he  cursed  him  out 
of  one  side  of  his  mouth,  he  complimented 
him  out  of  the  other.  ^   1  i 

As  to  the  officer  and  two  men  very  little 
was  said.  A  mild  suggestion  as  to  their 
release  brought  out  such  an  expression  of 
opinion  from  Captain  Bluson  that  the 
officer  was  glad  to  drop  the  subject.  It 
was  quite  evident  there  was  nothing  for 
them  but  to  be  taken  in  irons  to  Bermuda, 
there  to  stand  their  trial,  perhaps  for 
attempt  at  piracy. 

With  spare  spars  from  the  AjaXy  the 
steamer  having  lost  all  hers,  a  drag  was 
hastily  constructed  by  which  the  steamer 
could  be  held  head  to  the  wind  if  it 
should  blow  too  hard  for  her  to  hold  on 


THE   BBUNA.  109 

to  the  ship,  which  in  that  case  would  lie 
by  until  good  weather.  Before  it  was 
quite  dark,  both  ve^b^els  were  in  tow  of 
the  steamer,  and  steering  towards  Ber- 
muda, but  making  slow  progress,  with 
the  wind  ahead.  Two  more  men  were 
sent  to  the  bark,  making  now  six  able- 
bodied  men  on  board  her.  Rollins  had 
already  reported  her  so  thoroughly 
cleansed  and  fumigated  that  there  was 
no  further  danger  from  fever. 

During  the  night  the  wind  and  sea 
increased,  until,  a  little  after  midnight, 
hawsers  had  to  be  cast  off,  and  the 
steamer  lay  to,  by  aid  of  the  drag.  The 
others  also  lay  to,  Mt  the  Ajax  held  on 
to  the  bark.  At  times  the  rain  fell 
heavily,  and  it  was  ^n  anxious  night. 
The  following  day  was  little  better,  but 
towards  evening  they  were  able  to  get 
hawsers  on  board  again.  Another  day 
and  another  night  passed,  with  moderate 
winds  and  fair  progress.     On  the   after- 


110  CBUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATEB. 

noon  of  the  third  day,  the  white  shores 
of  Bermuda  rose  to  sight,  a  pilot  came 
off,  and  bi  jre  morning  all  were  safely 
anchored  in  the  harbor  of  Hamilton. 
..The  Ajax  anchored  a  little  ahead  of 
the  others,  and  was  the  first  to  receive 
visits  from  custom-house  officers,  health 
officers,  police  officers,  and  the  whole  host 
g£  officials  of  the  port.  The  captain  was 
allowed  to  go  on  shore,  which  he  did, 
and  called  on  judges  and  lawyers  and 
consuls  and  merchants,  the  result  being 
the  transfer  of  the  bark  to  the  admiralty 
courts,  and  the  prisoners  to  the  civil 
authorities.  This  accomplished,  permis- 
sion to  land  was  given  to  all,  and,  on  the 
representation  of  the  captain,  quarantine 
was  not  enforced  against  Rollins  and 
the  others  on  the  bark  who  had  gone 
from  the  Ajax.  The  German  captain  and 
his  wife  and  men  were  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital. Rollins  and  Jerves  were  not  long 
in  getting  on  board  the  ship  when,  after 


THE  BRUNA.  HI 

bathing,  changing  their  clothes,  and 
throwing  their  old  ones  overboard,  they 
received  the  greetings  and  congratular 
tions  of  their  friends.  The  simple  "  Well 
done,  well  done,"  of  Mrs,  Bates  to  Jerves, 
as  she  gave  him  her  hand,  seemed  to 
mean  something  different  from  the  warm 
words  she  showered  on  the  mate,  words 
that  sent  that  officer  aw.  y  feeling  as  if 
he  could  go  through  the  whole  again  for 
another  like  reward.  Her  words  to 
Jerves  seemed  to  say,  "You  have  done  a 
noble  thing,  that  I  did  not  think  you 
capable  of.  I  am  glad  I  was  mistaken 
in  you.  Please  forgive  me."  All  the 
captain  had  to  say  was,  "  Well,  boys,  you 
have  had  a  hard  job,  and  have  done  it 
well.  Now,  let's  go  ashore."  But  the 
four  seamen  had  to  be  called  up,  and, 
after  a  very  few  words  of  commendation, 
were  given  a  suit  of  clothes  each,  and  a 
day's  leave.  Part  of  the  crew  were  also 
given  a  day's   leave.      "Now,  see    here, 


112  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

men,  I  want  you  to  enjoy  yourselves,  but 
I  don't  want  you  to  disgrace  the  ship. 
You  have  done  well,  and  I  am  satisfied 
with  you,  and  I  don't  want  to  be 
ashamed  of  you  when  you  come  back," 
said  the  captain,  as  they  passed  to  their 
boat.  Three  of  them  came  back  sober, 
which  Rollins  explained  afterwards  to 
Mrs.  Bates  was  more  than  he  expected. 

They  all  then  prepared  to  go  ashore,  for 
there  were  affidavits  and  depositions  to  be 
made,  and  a  vast  amount  of  legal  formali- 
ties to  be  gone  through.  But,  before  they 
got   started,   the   captain   of    the  steamer 

came  on  board  to  arrange  his  affairs,  and 
the  two  shipmasters'  discussion  was  long, 
though  without  bitterness.  The  steamer's 
captain  was  far  from  bemg  a  gentleman, 
and  the  two  ladies  rejoiced  that  they  were 
not  among  his  passengers ;  but  he  was  an 
experienced  and  capable  seaman,  and  rec- 
ognized the  like  qualities  in  the  other.  As 
to  the  principal  object  of  his  coming,  how 


THE  BRUNA.  113 

ever,  the  release  of  his  officer  and  men,  he 
found  the  captain  of  the  Ajox  inflexible ; 
they  must  be  dealt  with  by  the  law,  and, 
moreover,  Captain  Bluson  would  do  all  he 
could  to  bring  about  a  summary  trial, 
before  any  of  the  parties  or  witnesses  could 
get  away.  The  captain  of  the  steamer 
disclaimed  any  knowledge  of  the  attempt 
of  his  subordinate  to  get  possession  of  the 
bark.  If  he  did  anything  of  the  kind,  he 
must  ta^  the  consequences.  The  captain 
was  too  shrewd  to  make  much  effort  to 
protect  him.  He  returned  to  his  ship,  but 
afterwards,  when  the  police  wanted  the  two 
men  who  had  escaped  from  the  bark  and 
returned  to  the  steamer,  he  took  care  they 
should  not  be  found.  Spite  of  that,  how- 
ever. Captain  Bluson,  through  the  assist- 
ance of  the  German  and  American  con- 
suls, did  bring  about  a  summary  trial, 
for  there  was  no  reasonable  pretext  for 
delay.  Rollins  and  Jerves  spent  most  of 
the  next    day  on  the  witness   stand,   but 


114  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  BATEB. 

only  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  pris- 
oners sent  back  to  jail,  to  await  trial  by 
a  court  of  higher  j'aris  liction. 

Meanwhile,  as  soon  as  the  captain  of  the 
steamer  had  left  the  Ajax,  the  ladies  and 
children  went  ashore  and  explored  the 
city,  returning  loaded  with  flowers  and 
fruits.  The  story  of  the  Ajax  and  her  two 
prizes  created  great  excitement  in  the  dull 
little  city,  and  our  passengers  received  a 
good  deal  of  attention  and  many  courte- 
sies. They  declined  all  the  dinner-parties 
to  which  they  were  invited  except  one, 
which  they  were  told  it  was  hardly  permis- 
sible to  refuse. 

At  last,  however,  all  the  legal  business 
was  done,  the  bark  transferred  to  the 
courts,  the  salvage  money  of  the  steamer 
paid,  each  man  having  his  share  of  it  in 
his  pocket,  and  a  prospect  of  some  more 
when  the  proceedings  as  to  the  bark 
were  concluded.  The  captain  pocketed 
his  share  as  owner,  but  for  his  share  as 


HHK  PHUNA.  116 

master  he  handed  a  draft  to  Rolling,  say- 
ing :  "  Here,  Mr.  Rollins,  send  this  to  that 
good  old  mother  of  yours  with  my  compli- 
ments, and  tell  her  from  me  that  you  have 
behaved  only  as  well  as  I  expected."   v 

"Thank  you,  captain.  That'll  do  the 
old  lady's  heart  good.     I  don't  —  " 

"  Come,  now,  write  your  letter  and  get 
ashore  and  mail  it.  I'll  have  some  more 
letters  to  go  with  it. —  Mr.  Bows  !  " 

"Ay,  ay,  sir/'  ■  '^ 

"  Here's  your  share  of  the  salvage  money, 
and  I'm  going  to  send  it  to  your  wife. 
You've  no  use  for  it,  and  she  has." 

"  That's  true,  sir.  And  it's  d— d  little 
good  it  would  be  to  fier  if  T  got  it  between 
my  fingers.  They're  slippery  as  h — ^1,  and 
the  hole  in  the  bottom  of  my  pocket's  big- 
ger than  the  one  at  the  top." 

"  No  swearing  abaft  the  mainmast,  Mr. 
Bows." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir.  I  forgot  where 
I  was.  Just  let  her  know  if  I  get  out  of 
Bermuda  sober,  will  you,  sir  ?  " 


116  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER.    ' 

"Yes.  Call  a  boat  alongside  to  take 
Mr.  Rollins  ashore  with  the  letters,  and 
then  heave  the  anchor  short." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir." 

Mr.  Bows  wanted  to  take  those  letters 
ashore  himself,  but  was  aware  that  the 
captain  Inew  better  than  to  send  hun,  and 
he  went  forward,  whistling :  — 


"  I  wish  I  was  in  Baltimore, 
Hey,  storm  along  — " 


"Mr.  Jerves,  being  only  a  passenger,  I 
suppose  you  are  not  entitled  to  salvage 
money,  and  wouldn't  care  for  it  if  you 
were ;  but  I'd  like  to  have  you  accept  this, 
just  to  remember  your  life  on  the  bark 
by,"  —  and  the  captain  handed  Jerves  a 
silver  claret  jug,  with  the  name  of  the  bark 
and  the  latitude  and  longitude  on  it. 

"  Thank  you,  captain.  I  suspect  I  shall 
hardly  need  a  reminder,  but  I'll  accept  this 
one  with  pleasure,  and,  more  than  that,  I 
will  have  it  filled  at  once,  for  I  am  abomi- 
nably thirsty.' 


» 


■•wahfM^iawiaaM; 


iBSssssssssm 


THE  BBTTNA.  117 

**  All  right,  and  I'll  help  you  try  it.  — 
Come,  Mr.  Rollins ;  boat  is  waiting." 

In  another  hour  the  Ajax  had  weighed 
anchor  and  was  again  on  h'^r  way  to  Hono- 
lulu. . 


J^:- 


CHAPTER  Vin. 


TRADE   WINDS. 


Officers  and  passengers  were  too  much 
exhausted  by  the  labors  and  excitements  of 
the  last  two  weeks  to  be  very  lively,  and 
for  several  days  little  was  done  but  eat, 
sleep,  and  relate  experiences.  At  the  end 
of  a  week,  however,  the  old  routine  was 
resumed,  Jerves's  camera  re-appeared,  also 
his  books  and  drawing  materials,  and,  most 
important  of  all,  his  neglected  journal. 
There  was  now  plenty  of  material  for  it. 
Mrs.  Bates's  pen  had  not  been  idle,  for  aside 
from  her  own  diary  she  had  written  a  com- 
plete account  of  the  late  incidents,  from 
which  Jerves  might  select  what  he  chose. 
She  had  made  water-color  sketches  of  bark 
and  steamer,  and  whatever  she  had  seen  of 

interest.    Jerves  was  greatly  surprised,  and 

118 


iiriM.m--   iriBh..  r'.i.-ViMriW.-.r..M,-   r-.,^,.fT,lv»...,.»'~--.-i,,v  -..■.-■-,,i'.-^^..i:^....,.....  .- -:...,;-,.,..-.., :  ■  -IT^- JJM_I_ 


TRADE   WINDS.  119 

set  vigorously  to  work  to  make  pen  and 
pencil  sketches  of  the  deck  of  the  bark  as 
he  first  saw  it,  the  German  captain's  wile 
dragging  her  husband  from  the  cabin,  the 
injured  men  and  many  other  scenes  that 
had  impressed  themselves  on  his  memory. 
There  was  no  lack  of  subjects,  and  the 
journal  grew  rapidly,    /r  b  ,5       v  :    r 

As  they  sat  quietly  interested  in  their 
work,  Mrs.  Bluson  asked  Jerves  if  the 
sight  of  the  German  woman  nursing  her 
sick  husband  had  changed  his  ideas  as  to 
the  worthlessness  and  uselessness  of  women. 
He  replied  that  at  first  it  had,  but  that 
afterwards  he  found  that  Rollins' s  care 
was  just  as  great,  and  on  the  whole  more 
efficient,  and  that  the  woman' p  attentions 
.  were  quite  unnecessary,  except  as  they 
relieved  Rollins  of  some  part  of  his  labor. 
Mrs.  Bates  smiled  gently,  for  she  had  con- 
versed with  the  German  woman  and  found 
that  although  Rollins  might  have  given 
orders,  it  waa  Jerves  who  paid  the  most 


120  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAI^  HATER, 

attention  and  gave  the  most  care  to  her 
husband. 

Jerves's  views  about  women  were  the 
never-ending  subject  for  the  chaff  and  ridi- 
cule of  the  captain  and  his  good-natured, 
kind,  and  affectionate  wife.  His  notions 
met  with  a  goo*  Heal  of  banter,  and  were 
taken  to  be  half  pretence  and  half  igno- 
rance, and  never  treated  quite  seriously. 
These  two  were  so  well  satisfied  that  matri- 
mony was  the  only  jwraper,  and  suitable,  and 
fu'  ^gether  desirable  condition  for  grown 
men  and  women,  that  they  wanted  every- 
body to  be  in  it,  and  though  neither  of  them 
was  a  matchmaker  in  a  particular  way, 
they  were  indefatigable  preachers  of  mat- 
rimony in  general.  Of  course  very  few 
could  expect  to  find  such  absolutely  per- 
fect husbands  and  wives  as  theirs,  but 
there  was  surely  a  right  and  suitable  Jack 
for  every  Jill,  and  equally  certainly  ^  Jill 
for  every  Jack.  As  for  Mrs.  Bates  (who 
never  joined  in  these   conversations),  shd 


■a 


TBADE  WINDS.  121 

had  been  deceived  in  her  Jack,  and  so  had 
got  a  wrong  one,  but  that  did  not  change 
the  general  pnhciple  in  the  least.  The 
Torld  was  not  perfect,  and  some  mistakes 
must  be  expected.  ^ 

She  and  Jerves  were  on  nearly  the  same 
terms  as  before.  They  were  fellow-passen- 
gers, but  besides  this,  they  were  members 
of  the  same  small  family.  Their  occupa- 
tions and  amusements  were  nearly  the 
same,  and  there  must  be  necessarily  some 
intimacy,  but  it  was  the  intimacy  of 
respectful  companionship  rather  than  of 
friends.  Jerves  had  quite  forgotten  his 
resolution  to  make  her  voyage  unpleasant. 
If  he  had  attempted  to  put  it  in  practice, 
it  is  likely  he  would  have  found  the  un- 
pleasantness on  his  side.  She  seemed  to 
have  no  need  of  him,  while  he  was  fre- 
quently appealing  to  her  for  assistance  or 
advice,  for  a  song  or  a  translation.  He 
confessed  to  himself  she  had  not  proved 
the  annoyance  he  expected.    He  had  no 


122  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

excuse  for  not  being  polite  to  her.  On 
the  bark  with  Rollins  he  had  greatly  missed 
her,  and  was  constantly  wondering  what 
she  was  doing,  whether  she  had  noticed 
this  sunset  or  that  effect  of  clouds,  and 
even  whether  she  would  think  they  were 
treating  the  sick  captain  properly. 

The  weather  was  pleasant,  and  every 
body  was  busy.  There  were  three  fes- 
tivals coming,  the  captain's  birthday, 
crossing  the  Line,  and  Christmas  —  all 
of  which  were  to  be  observed  in  elaborate 
style.  For  the  birthday,  the  children 
were  to  act  the  little  fairy-tale  that  Mrs. 
Bates  had  translated,  Harry  being  the 
prince,  and  Bobby  the  little  princess. 
Their  mother  should  have  been  the  fairy, 
but  the  children  said  nobody  but  Helen 
could  do  that,  "  and  look  just  like  a  fairy 
too,"  said  Bobby,  whose  ideas  of  fairies 
were  perhaps  not  very  well  defined. 

The  ladies  prepared  costumes,  and  had 
a  great  deal  to  do.     Then  they  had  to 


wm 


TRADE  WINDS.  123 

make  dresses  for  themselves,  —  thin  ones 
for  the  tropics,  and  thick  ones  for  Cape 
Horn.  They  had  fashion-books  of  latest 
styles,  and  talked  about  linings,  and 
trimmings,  and  flounces,  till  the  captain 
complained  that  his  saloon  was  nothing 
but  a  dress-maker  s  shop,  and  that  they 
got  his  logarithms  all  mixed  up  with 
box-plaitings  and  frills.  He  even  de- 
clared that  one  day  he  made  the  ship 
out  to  be  somewhere  among  the  Himalaya 
Mountains,  owing  to  mistaking  the 
number  of  breadths  m  a  skirt  for  the 
sun's  declination.      '  rJ 

The  birthday  entertainment  was  a 
grand  success.  Jerves  made  out  a  pro- 
gramme that  was  a  perfect  wonder  of 
gorgeous  illui  lination.  Mrs.  Bates  was 
compelled  to  appear  as  the  fairy,  and  if 
*e  wa,  .ot  one  of  the  ordtalrily  ae- 
cepted  type,  she  was  graceful  enough, 
and  her  voice  was  sweet  enough,  to  make 
her  the  children's  ideal  of  a  fairy  for 
many  years  after. 


124  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

Jerves  noticed  that  the  hair,  that  had 
looked  to  him  such  a  dirty  brown  when 
she  came  on  board  the  ship,  now  had  a 
tinge  of  gold  in  it,  and  the  lips  that 
were  then  so  white  were  now  almost 
crimson.  The  sunken  cheeks  were  be- 
coming round  and  full,  and  where  there 
liad  then  been  a  line  of  paSt  there  was 
now  almost  a  dimple.  He  ^vas  sure  the 
man  who  had  so  abused  and  then  deserted 
her,  must  have  been  a  miserable  and 
ungrateful  scoundrel,  and  he  wonder^ 
how  such  an  unusually  sensible  woman 
should  have  been  so  deceived  as  to  marry 
him.  He  thought  of  asking  the  captain, 
but  concluded  he  would  not  even  show 
so  much  interest  in  her  as  to  inquire 
about  her.     Still  he  wished  he  knew. 

Since  the  episode  of  the  bark,  the  first 
mate  had  taken  a  strong  liking  to  Jerves. 
Though  they  had  been  on  friendly  terms, 
the  mate  had  looked  on  Jerves  as  a 
pleasant,  lazy  fellow  who  cared  only  to 


TRADE  WINDS.  126 

make  himself  comfortable,  eat  good 
dinners,  and  occupy  himself  with  trifles 
that  were  only  one  remove  from  pure 
idleness.  But  the  readiness  with  which 
Jerves  had  followed  him  to  the  deck  of 
the  bark,  and  taken  his  f .  II  share  of  the 
labors  there,  his  care  of  the  German 
captain  and  his  wife,  and  especially  the 
boldness  and  promptness  with  which  he 
had  attacked  the  three  seamen,  and  the 
presence  of  mmJ  lie  had  shown  in  send- 
ing their  boat  adrift,  had  materially 
changed  his  opinion,  and  he  thought 
there  must  be  a  good  deal  in  the 
fellow  after  all.  They  had  many  a  long 
talk  together,  walking  the  deck  in  the 
evenings. 

It  was  on  one  of  these  occasior  chey 
had  been  talking  of  unsucces^r^^  ,a.^) 
that  the  mate  was  telling  of  »  friend  of 
his  who  had  lost  his  ship  by  collision 
with  an  iceberg  in  a  fog,  when  two  of 
his  men  were  dro^med.       He  had  been 


126  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

thirty-four  hours  on  deck,  and  had  fallen 
asleep  leaning  against  the  rail.  Suddenly 
roused  by  the  cry,  "  Ice,  right  ahead,"  he 
had  called  out  "Port,'*  when  possibly  if 
he  had  said  "  Starboard,"  the  berg  might 
have  been  cleared.  Though  no  one  ever 
blamed  him,  he  was  so  distressed  and 
disheartened  that  he  would  never  go  to 
sea  again,  but  went  with  his  wife  to  live 
on  a  barren  little  farm  that  hardly  gave 
them  a  miserable  support.  "It's  an 
infernal  pity,"  said  the  mate;  "he's  a 
splendid  fellow,  honest  as  the  sun,  and 
with  a  heart  bigger  than  an  ox.  They 
have  no  family,  only  Mrs.  Bates's  little 
girl,  who  lives  with  them,  but  I  expect 
they  have  a  confounded  hard  time  of  it. 
Mrs.  Bates  used  to  send  them  all  she 
could,  but  it  wasn't  much.  It's  hard 
lines  on  the  little  one  too ;  she  can't  have 
any  education,  or  anything  she  ought  to 
have.  I  know  it  worries  her  mother  a 
good  deal,  but  there's  no    help    for    it. 


TRADE  WINDS.  127 

There's  one  good  thing,  though ;  the  little 
thing's  health  is  firsf-rate  now,  and  she's 
pretty  as  a  picture.  X  saw  her  last 
month  when  I  weflt  up  to  try  to  get 
Jere  to  go  second  mate  with  us  to  China, 
and  let  us  keep  Bows  on  third.     »l^ 

"  Jere's  fitter  for  master  than  he  is  for 
second  mate,  and  I  should  have  felt  queer 
to  be  giving  him  orders,  but  I  should  have 
been  glad  to  have  had  him  along  all  the 
same.  Bows  didn't  care  to  go  second  any- 
way. It's  all  the  same  to  him  in  the  end 
whether  he  goes  second  or  third,  and  he 
knows  it.  It  looks  a  little  as  if  the  old 
man  might  make  something  out  of  Bows 
this  time,  though.  He  got  him  out  of  New 
York  sober,  ani  out  of  Bermuda  sober, 
and  I  don't  think  the  like  has  happened 
to  him  before  for  many  a  year.  I  thought 
if  I  could  get  Jere  to  sea  once  more,  he'd 
pick  up  again,  but  he'd  lost  all  his  courage 
and  wouldn't  go.  Jere  and  I  saw  some 
lively  times  together  in  the  war.     Both  of 


128  CBUI8E  or  A   WOMAN  HATER, 

US  were  pretty  young  then,  and  in  those 
days  Jere  wasn't  afraid  of  anything.  I 
suspect  he  don't  care  to  leave  his  wife 
nowadays,  and  I  don^  know  that  I  blame 
him  much.  A  right  good  helpmate  she 
is  to  Jere,  and  no  mistake.  Handsome 
woman,  too,l* 

"How  old  is  Mrs.  Bates's  little  girl 
now  ?  "  asked  Jerves. 

"Let  me  see.  She  must  be  about  six 
now,  I  should  say." 

"How  came  her  mother  ever  to  marry 
that  worthless  fellow?"  ^  . 

But  just  then  the  lookout  called,  "  Light 
on  the  lee  bow,  sir ! "  and  Jerves' s  ques- 
tion was  not  answered.  It  was  only  a 
steamer,  and  she  was  soon  out  of  sight, 
but  the  mate's  watch  was  over,  and  he 
went  below. 

Jerves  walked  the  deck  a  good  while, 
thinking  things  over,  and  then  went  to 
his  cabin  and  wrote  two  letters.  One  was 
to  his  bankers,  directing  them  to  deposit 


TSADE  WINDS.  129 

certain  securities  with  a  Trust  Company. 
The  other  was  to  his  lawyer,  directing  how 
the  income  of  the  securities  was  to  be  dis- 
posed of.  He  even  made  a  draft  of  the 
letter  that  should  be  sent  by  the  Trust 
Company  to  the  person  whose  name  he 
gave.     It  ran  something  like  this :  — 


..Siv'i-X-' 


"Sib  :  Seme  person  unknown  to  ns  has  deposited 
in  this  Company  funds,  from  which  we  are  directed 
to  pay  to  you  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  per  month, 
from  the  first  of  November  last,  for  the  support, 
use,  and  education  of  Helen,  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Helen  M.  Bates,  so  long  as  she  shall  remain 
under  your  care.  The  same  to  be  expended  ac- 
cording to  your  discretion.    Herewith  please  find,'* 

etc.     '  .  ,    ,    ,'      ^,        ^'":^':''': 

It  was  nearly  morning  before  his  letter 
to  the  lawyer  was  finished,  for  there  were 
many  contingencies  to  be  provided  for. 
Then  he  went  to  bed  and  entertained 
himself  for  a  while  with  the  attempt  to  im- 
agine the  feelings  of  the  little  girl's  guar- 
dians on  receipt  of  the  news  of  her  good 


180  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

fortune,  and  what  her  mother  would  say 
when  she  came  to  know  of  it.  He  thought 
he  had  managed  so  that  the  donor  could 
not  be  known  or  the  gift  refused.  The 
amount  was  nothing  to  him.  It  would 
make  no  difference  whatever  in  his  per- 
sonal expenses,  and  would  make  several 
persons  happy.  Thinking  it  all  over,  he 
fell  asleep,  and  breakfast  was  over  long 
before  he  awoke.  He  was  severely  chaffed 
by  the  captain  for  having  slept  over  break- 
fast time  and  lost  his  douche.  Mr.  Bows, 
the  captain  said,  was  for  giving  him  his 
douche  in  bed  through  the  window,  for,  he 
said,  "  Mr.  Jerves  wouldn't  like  to  miss  a 

rmse.  :;-.---:^:iV;v--^;- ,.;-■,,-.:  ■^:-^-:^ 

Jerves  bore  all  their  chaff  with  even 
more  than  his  usual  equanimity,  and  rather 
chuckled  to  himself,  as  he  thought  what 
Mrs.  Bates  would  say  if  she  knew  how  it 
happened.  He  was  now  impatient  to  get 
his  letters  off,  and  his  anxiety  to  meet 
some  homeward-bound  vessel  attracted  at- 


TBADB  WINDS. 


181 


tention.  With  good  luck  the  news  might 
reach  Mrs.  Bates  at  Honolulu,  and  he 
wished  he  might  see  her  face  when  she 
read  her  letters.  He  thought  he  had  pro- 
vided against  the  possibility  of  any  suspi- 
cion falling  on  himself  by  making  the  pay- 
ments commence  from  the  1st  of  Novem- 
ber, which  was  before  he  had  ever  seen 
Mrs.  Bates. 

Fortime  favored  him  this  time,  for  the 
next  day  but  one  they  spoke  the  Bark 
Galatea,  from  Rio  for  New  York,  and  his 
letters,  with  many  others,  were  sent  on 
board  her. 

The  time  passed  smoothly.  The  ship 
was  now  sailing  on  summer  seas,  with 
steady,  fair  winds.  Each  day  was  like 
yesterday,  but  to  the  passengers  there 
was  no  monotony.  All  had  enough  to  do, 
though  there  was  no  hurry  about  doing 
it.  To  Jerves  it  was  almost  an  ideal  life, 
— perfect  ease  and  comfort,  no  cares,  good 
living,  pleasant  company,  and  not  too  much 


I 


182  CBUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

of  it.  Mr.  Rollins  had  plenty  of  leisure 
to  work  out  with  him  problems  at  chess 
or  mathematics  when  they  felt  disposed. 
The  captain  busied  himself  with  a  won- 
derful piece  of  wood-carving,  for  which 
Mrs.  Bates  had  copied  him  an  elaborate 
arabesque  design  out  of  some  book. 

Mrs.  Bates  had  discovered  that  the 
mate  knew  her  friend  Jere  Haskins, 
and  had  seen  her  little  girl.  That  was 
enough  starting  ground  for  many  a  long 
talk,  walking  the  deck  with  him  in  the 
brilliant  moonlight,  or  watching  the 
phosphorescent  wake  of  the  ship.  She 
made  hun  repeat,  over  and  over  again, 
his  stories  of  how  she  looked,  and  what 
she  said  and  did.  He  did  not  tell  her 
how  very  poor  her  friend  Jere  was  — 
she  knew  he  was  poor,  but  not  how  poor 
—  but  he  found  out  that,  before  starting, 
she  had  sent  him  for  the  child  the  last 
five-dollar  bill  she  had.  Had  she  been 
taken  back  to  New  York  in  the  tug  that 


TRADE  WINDS, 


133 


i 


brought  her  to  the  ship,  she  would  have 
been  left  there  absolutely  penniless.  She 
did  not  know  that  Joel  Watterson  was 
waiting  on  the  dock  for  news  of  her. 

The  story  of  Rohxns's  and  Jerves's  life 
on  the  bark  was  more  than  once  re- 
peated. She  asked  a  great  many  ques- 
tions about  it,  especially  about  the  sick 
captain  and  his  wife,  and  how  they 
tended  him.  She  accused  the  mate  of 
not  being  an  impartial  narrator,  when  he 
gave  all  the  credit  to  Jerves,  and  once 
she  nearly  got  those  two  at  loggerheads, 
by  comparing  in  their  presence  theit 
different  stories,  v^  Jerves  accused  the 
mate  of  telling  tales  out  of  school,  and 
the  mate  declared  he  would  have  the 
truth  told  if  he  started  the  bowsprit, 
and  said  Jerves  would  make  it  out  that 
it  was  he  who  broke  that  pirate's  jaw- 
bone, if  he  was  not  on  the  spot  to  con- 
tradict him.  Mrs.  Bates  knew  the  truth 
of  the  story,  having  visited   the  German 


I 


184  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  EATER. 

woman  in  the  hospital  at  Bermuda,  but 
she  made  Rollins  tell  it  all  over.  She 
wondered  whether  the  three  men  had 
been  tried  yet,  and  of  course  that  brought 
out  again  the  account  of  the  fight  on 
the  bark's  deck.  It  was  \3Ty  easy  to 
excite  Rollins' s  enthusiasm  on  that  sub- 
ject, and  perhaps  it  was  because  he 
enjoyed  telling  the  story  so  much,  that 
she  invited  him  to  rehearse  it  so  often. 

Now  the  weather  grew  very  hot. 
They  crossed  the  equator  in  longitude 
30°,  and  some  of  the  sailor^  were  put 
through  the  old-fashioned  and  almost 
disused  ceremony  of  a  visit  from  Father 
Neptune,  to  the  great  amusement  of  all, 
especially  the  children,  who  begged  and 
were  finally  allowed  to  take  a  share  in 
the  jollification.  That  day  was  made  a 
general  holiday,  and  Mr.  Bows,  having 
asked,  and  been  given,  the  special  charge 
of  the  boys,  gave  them  plenty  of  fun, 
and  looked    after    them    with  a    jealous 


TRADE  WINDS,  135 

care  that  diverted  the  ladies  exceedingly 
—  who,  as  may  be  supposed,  kept  an 
anxious  eye  on  him.  But  there  was  no 
occasion  for  anxiety,  for  if  they  had  been 
two  kittens,  instead  of  rollicking  beys, 
Bows  could  scarcely  have  been  more 
tender  of  them.  The  effort  of  "the  old 
saan "  to  make  something  of  Bows,  got 
a  good  lift  that  day.  j>i 

The  terrible  heat  lasted  two  or  three 
weeks,  with  calms,  and  light  airs  from 
every  direction.  Little  was  attempted 
but  to  protect  themselves  from  the  sun, 
and  make  themselves  as  comfortable  as 
they  could.  They  swung  their  hammocks 
under  double  awnings,  and  slept  in  them 
as  much  as  possible.  In  the  cabins  the 
heat  was  almost  insufferable,  and  nobody 
stayed  in  them  but  the  African  steward 
and  stewardess.  Meals  were  served  on 
deck,  and  those  three  weeks  were  a  pro- 
tracted picnic.  The  fruits  brought  in 
liberal  supply  from  Bermuda,  and  Jerves'a 
canned  delicacies,  were  in  great  demand. 


136 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATES. 


After  that  they  had  fair  and  steady  winds 
again,  and  sailed  rapidly  to  the  south, 
the  nights  growing  cooler  and  the  days 
more  comfortable  as  they  went.  The  daily 
occupations  of  reading,  writing,  sketch- 
ing, and  working,  and  the  usual  amuse- 
ments of  music,  card-playing,  shuffle-board, 
and  quoits,  went  on  south  of  the  equar 
tor  as  they  had  on  the  north  of  it.  Some 
three  weeks  of  this  brought  them  to  a 
region  of  storms  again,  and  occasional 
gales  met  them;  but  our  passengers  had 
now  learned  not  to  fear  them,  and  even 
to  take  interest  in  them. 


'*»S";1 


CHAPTER   IX. 


JACK. 


Then  came  the  first  seriously  unpleasant 
experience  of  the  voyage.  One  Sunday 
at  the  usual  service,  Mrs.  Bates  missed  the 
brown  and  wrinkled  face  of  the  old  sailor 
who  had  asked  for  another  song  on  their 
first  Sunday  out,  and  learned  that  the  poor 
old  man  was  seriously  ill  in  the  forecastle. 
Now  she  remembered  that  she  had  seen 
Jerves  and  the  first  mate  making  fre- 
quent visits  to  the  forward  part  of  the 
ship,  and  that  they  always  returned  with 
sober  faces.  She  had  (jjiite  liked  the  quiet, 
gentle  ways  of  the  old  man,  and  had  often 
exchanged  a  few  pleasant  words  with  him. 
There  are  not  many  left  now  of  his  kind, 
merely  a   few  relics  of  a  past  generation. 

The  rest  of  the  Ajaxs  crew  was  only  about 

137 


138  CBUI8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

the  average  sailor  of  to-day,  though  Cap- 
tain Bluson  had  done  what  he  could  in 
the  way  of  selecting  his  men  so  as  to 
have  a  peaceable  ship  when  his  wife  was 
on  board.  He  had  some  good  men  who 
had  sailed  with  him  before,  and  who 
knew  that,  though  he  would  have  disci- 
pline, he  was  not  a  brute,  and  that  if  they 
behaved  themselves  they  could  be  sure  of 
kind  treatment.  A  few  trifling  skirmishes 
with  Mr.  Bows  and  the  third  mate  in  the 
first  week  out  had  taught  others  the  ad- 
vantages of  good  conduct,  and  there  was  no 
further  trouble  on  board.  Once  Mrs.  Bates 
had  had  quite  a  long  talk  with  the  old  man 
while  he  sat  on  a  hatch-house  making  a  can- 
vas bucket.  He  was  bom  on  the  sea,  always 
lived  on  it,  and  was  never  content  off  of  it. 
He  had  been  married,  and  his  only  daughter 
was  the  wife  of  the  mate  of  a  whaler.  And 
he  brought  and  showed  Mrs.  Bates  the  tri- 
fles he  had  picked  up  on  his  last  three 
voyages  IteFlSs  little  granddaughter.   She 


JACK.  1S9 

told  him  about  her  own  little  daughter 
who  also  had  sunny  eyes  and  golden  hair, 
like  his  little  Susie.  He  said  he  liked  to 
hear  her  sing,  and  she  sang  softly  to  him 
when  there  was  no  one  by.  He  gave  her 
a  wonderful  bit  of  coral  from  Madagascar, 
and  a  shell,  curiously  carved,  from  Borneo. 

She  asked  permission  to  visit  him,  which 
was  granted,  the  sailors  ranging  themselves 
aside  and  taking  off  their  hats  as  she 
passed.  Jerves  went  with  her.  They  found 
the  old  man  lying  in  his  bunk,  evidently 
very  feeble.  His  shipmates  had  done  the 
best  they  could  for  him,  but  it  is  hard  to 
make  a  sick  man  comfortable  in  a  ship's 
forecastle.  He  tried  to  rise  and  salute  her, 
but  was  too  weak.  She  smoothed  his  pil- 
lows, and  gave  him  such  medicines  as  were 
provided,  and  talked  cheerfully  with  him. 
His  thoughts  ran  or  little  Susie  and  the 
things  he  was  taking  to  her,  and  he  spoke 
of  Mrs.  Bates's  little  Helen,  who  he  imag- 
ined resembled  Susie.    He  talked  to  Jeives 


140  CBUI8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB, 

in  a  manner  that  showed  Jerves  to  have 
been  a  frequent  visitor  to  him,  and  she 
found  that  Jerves  and  Rollins  had  been 
watching  and  caring  for  him  several  days 
without  letting  her  or  the  captain^s  wife 
know  of  it.  They  would  not  disturb  the 
sunshine  in  the  cabin  by  mention  of  the 
shadow  in  the  forecastle.  Now,  however, 
she  understood  those  mysterious  confer- 
ences of  the  captain  with  Jerves  and  Rol- 
lins. She  would  gladly  have  stayed  and 
nursed  the  poor  man,  but  in  the  forecastle 
such  a  thing  was  impossible.  She  asked 
the  captain  for  leave  to  give  up  her  own 
room  to  him,  but  he  refused,  saying,  as 
she  thought,  rather  harshly,  that  he  had 
made  other  arrangements.  In  the  after- 
noon, however,  these  arrangements  ap- 
peared. The  room  adjoining  her  own  was 
cleared  of  the  extra  small  stores  that  had 
been  stowed  away  in  it,  and  made  suitable 
for  the  sick  man's  occupancy.  Then  the 
carpenter  came  and  unscrewed  the  parti- 


JACK.  141 

tion  between  the  two  rooms,  and  made  a 
door  of  it.  She  could  now  visit  and  nurse 
the  old  man  as  she  pleased,  while  her  own 

:^     room  was  undisturbed.     The  way  in  which 
it  was  done  told  her  that  it  had  all  been 

r  ^  carefully  planned  beforehand,  and  she  rec- 
ognized how  care  for  her  comfort  had 
been  made  to  accord  with  what  it  was 
thought  would  be  her  wishes.  She  knew 
who  it  was  had  done  it,  for  she  recollected 
having  seen  Jerves  and  the  carpenter  in 
earnest  consultation  the  day  before.  She 
saw  that  it  had  been  intended  that  when- 
ever she  should  know  of  the  old  man's 
sickness,  or  when  her  care  would  be  of 
use  to  him,  she  should  be  given  the  oppor- 
tunity to  attend  him  if  she  wished,  as 
she  undoubtedly  would.  The  thoughtful- 
ness  and  regard  for  her  feelings  implied 
in  this  touched  her  deeply — even  more 
than  it  surprised  her  that  her  wishes  had 
been  so  correctly  judged^-  ^^^^^^^^^ 
When    everything    had   been    prepared 


■      ■p.lWpM^WII 


142  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

under  the  captain's  supervision  —  Jerves 
not  being  visible — careful  hands  brought 
the  sick  man  to  the  room  and  laid  him  in 
the  berth.  "Now,  Helen,  I  leave  the  old 
man  in  your  hands,"  said  the  captain. 
"My  wife  will  help  you,  and  Jerves  will 
be  vexed  if  you  don't  call  on  him  when 
you  need  anything.  Don't  spare  him.  Take 
good  care  of  the  old  fellow;  he  has  been 
with  me  ever  since  I  have  been  a  master. 
He  hasn't  been  able  to  work  much  of  late 
years,  but  he  wanted  to  come  with  me 
this  voyage,  and  I  hadn't  the  heart  tc*  leave 
him  behind.  I  think  he  has  only  one 
more  voyage  to  make,  and  it  isn't  far  off 
either.  I'll  come  in  and  see  him  once  in 
awhile."  - 

The  captain  went  away,  and  his  wife 
came  and  shared  Mrs.  Bates'  room,  and 
they  two  took  care  of  the  sick  man  by 
turns.  There  was  really  not  much  that 
could  be  done  but  to  give  him  soothing 
medicines  and  make  his  bed  comfortable. 


JACK. 


148 


He  was  very  patient,  and  if  Mrs.  Bates 
would  sit  by  him  and  let  her  hand  lie 
on  his  he  was  satisfied.  At  the  least  un- 
usual stir  in  the  room  Jerves  was  always 
at  the  door  to  see  what  was  wanted,  and 
the  ladies  wondered  when  and  how  he 
slept.  The  captain  kept  the  boys  mostly 
with  him,  and  they  were  very  quiet. 

Next  to  Mrs.  Bates,  the  sick  man  liked 
to  have  Jerves  with  him.  They  seemed 
to  have  something  in  common,  and  it 
appeared  afterwards  that  he  had  charged 
Jerves  with  messages  to  his  daughter  and 

little  Susie,  and  directed  what  should  be 
done  with  the  little  things  he  had  been 
keeping  for  them. 

f^  The  watching  did  not  last  very  long.  On 
the  morning  of  the  fourth  day  the  old 
man  awoke,  after  quite  a  long  sleep,  and 
asked  Mrs.  Bates  if  he  could  see  Mr.  Jerves. 
Jerves  was  at  hand  in  an  instant,  and  the 
sick  man  repeated  some  of  the  directions 
he  had  already  givei  ^ 


144  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

"TouVe  been  very  good  to  old  Jack, 
and  he's  much  obliged  to  ye.  He's  going 
up  aloft  pretty  soon,  and  maybe  he'll  think 
of  ye  when  he  gets  there.  Thank  ye, 
ma'am,  for  all  your  kindness.  And  you 
too,  sir,  and  please  don't  forget  the  things 
for  Susie.  God  bless  you  both  "  — and  he 
added  in  the  same  tone  in  which  he  made 
the  responses  in  the  service,  "  Amen.** 

Soon  after,  he  asked  to  see  the  captain, 
who  was  quickly  summoned, — and  he  mo- 
tioned the  others  away.  After  thanking 
him  for  his  kindness  during  the  many 
years  they  had  sailed  together,  he  confided 
to  him  that  if  it  could  be  arranged  with- 
out hurting  the  feelings  of  his  kind  friends, 
he  would  rather  go  to  the  forecastle  to  die. 
The  cabin  was  no  place  for  such  as  hun. 
He  had  always  lived  in  the  forecastle,  and 
in  the  forecastle  he  would  like  to  die.  May- 
be they  wouldn't  know  him  up  there  if  he 
came  from  the  cabin,  but  if  he  came  from 
the  forecastle  he  would  meet  many  an  old 


JACK. 


145 


shipmate  who  would  have  a  good  word  to 
say  for  him. 

The  captain  promised  to  have  his  wishes 
complied  with,  and  in  a  short  time  he  was 
removed  on  the  bed  on  which  he  lay,  and 
placed  in  his  own  bunk.  A  light  smile 
passed  over  his  features  as  he  recognized 
the  familiar  surroundings.  The  men  gath- 
ered about,  and  he  called  them  all  up  to 
shake  hands  with  him.  "  Old  Jack's  going, 
mates,  good-bye  to  ye  all,''  he  said. 
-  The  captain  set  two  of  his  best  men 
to  watch  with  him,  with  orders  to  report 
when  they  should  see  any  signs  of  change. 
Jerves  hovered  about  ready  to  receive 
their  message.  It  came  very  soon. 
Jerves  beckoned  to  Mrs.  Bates  and  looked 
at  the  captain,  and  all  three  entered  the 
forecastle  together.  The  sick  man  smiled 
faintly  again  as  he  recognized  them, 
feebly  extended  his  hand  to  Mrs.  Bates, 
and  all  waited  for  the  endi  v  The  breath 
grew  fainter,  and  just  as  eight  bells 
struck  he  breathed  his  last. 


CHAPTER   X. 


ROUND   CAPE   HORN. 


After  this  they  had  a  series  of  gales 

— "  strong    breezes,"    the    captain    called 

them,   but   our  passengers   thought   them 

rather  heavy  gales  —  till  they  reached  the 

latitude  of  Cape  Horn.     There  they  were 

knocked    about    for    two    whole    weeks. 

Three  times  the  Ajax  tried  to  get   round 

the    Cape,   and  was    driven    back.      The 

fourth  time,   a  slant  of  wind  gave  her  a 

bit  of  a  chance,  and  in  a  few  hours  she 

was  clear  of    that    ugly  point.      Thence 

they  sailed  away  to  the  west    and  then 

turning  the    ship's    head    to    the    north, 

found   smoother  seas  and  milder  weather. 

They  met  no  more   wrecks,   no   disabled 

steamers,  but  kept  on  their  desired  course 

without  any  imusual  events.      There  wm 

146 


BOUND  CAPE  HORN. 


147 


plenty  to  be  seen  and  noted.  All  the 
glories  of  the  southern  heavens,  and  all 
the  wonders  of  the  seas  on  the  west  of 
the  continent,  were  over  and  around 
them  as  they  had  been  on  the  east. 
Catching  a  shark  once  or  twice  interested 
them,  but  otherwise  there  were  few  inci- 
dents. It  would  seem  that  such  a  voyage 
must  be  weary  and  monotonous,  but  in 
truth  cur  passengers  found  it  far  other- 
jwdse,  and  the  days  were  too  short  for  their 
multifarious  occupations  and  amusements. 
The  captain's  wife  was  of  course  always 
busy.  Two  lively  boys,  brimful  of  health 
and  spirits,  are  not  likely  to  leave  their 
careful  mother  much  time  for  folded 
hands.  Mrs.  Bates  had  plenty  of  occupa- 
tion. The  boys'  lessons  took  up  some 
time,  and  the  tnmk  full  of  materials 
provided  by  her  friend  Mrs.  Watterson 
gave  her  abundant  sewing.  Her  heart 
was  very  full,  whenever  she  read  the 
kind  note  she  found  in  the  top  of  the 


148  CBUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB, 

trunk.  She  pasted  it  inside  the  lid,  and 
never  opened  the  trunk  without  an  im- 
pulse to  fall  on  her  knees.  "  And  you 
need  not  worry  a  bit  about  little  Helen; 
we  will  look  after  her/'  were  among  the 
last  words  it  said.  And  then  there  was 
Jerves's  journal,  in  which  she  was  greatly 
interested,  and  which  was  now  nearly  as 
much  hers  as  his.  It  was  always  open 
to  both.  In  fact  it  was  almost  pubHc 
property,  for  the  captain  had  written  a 
story  of  college  life  for  it,  and  his  wife  a 
simple  and  charming  little  episode  of 
her  girlhood.  Mr.  Rollins  gave  an 
account  of  the  capture  of  a  slaver,  and 
Mr.  Bows  told  of  the  wreck  of  the 
Juniata,  in  a  manner  that  was  second 
mate  all  over.  Jerves,  in  his  frequent 
excursions  to  the  forward  part  of  the 
ship,  picked  up  among  the  men  many 
an  anecdote  and  incident,  and  many  a 
song,  and  all  went  into  the  journal. 

Then  they  had  what  they  called  balls 


ROUND  CAPE  HORN. 


149 


ffnd  operas  and  concerts  and  garden- 
parties  and  charades,  that  people  on  land 
incline  to  ttink  exclusively  their  own. 
It  was  a  "  garden-party ''  whenever  they 
played  ring  quoits  and  shuffle-board,  and 
there  were  "  charades "  whenever  the 
Soys  were  uiiusually  qu?et  for  ah  Bour 
ifcfl^  and  then  appeared  rigged  out  in 
costumes  of  anything  inappropriate  for 
boys'  wear,  and  pretended  to  represent 
Idliie  impossible  word.  Mrs.  Bates  had 
had  set  a  ball  rolling  that  was  not  easily 
stopped,  when  she  dressed  up  those  boys 
to  enact  "  cat' s-paw "  on  the  birthday 
festival.  Their  mother  sighed  whenever 
she  saw  them  appear,  and  it  took  her  an 
hour  to  put  in  order  w^hat  they  deranged 
in  ten  minutes.  They  had  concerts,  in 
which  all  took  part,  especially  Mr.  Bows, 
who  was  rather  proud  of  his  singing,  and 
gave  "In  the  Bay  of  Biscay  0,"  with  a 
power  of  lungs  that  the  captain  said  threat- 
ened to  ^*  take  the  mizzen  topsail  aback." 


150  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

One  glorious  evening,  when  the  moon 
wis  at  its  full,  the  men  were  dancing  to 
the  music  of  the  steward's  violin.  By  some 
chance  he  struck  a  very  passable  waltz. 
The  captain  said  to  his  wife,  "Carrie,  I 
wonder  if  we  have  forgotten  how  to  waltz  ?^ 
It  appeared  they  had  not,  and  Jerves  and 
Mrs.  Bates  applauded  them.  His  wife  get- 
ting out  of  breath,  the  untiring  captain 
r;ame  up  to  Mrs.  Bates  with :  "  Now,  Helen, 
it's  your  turn" — and  Mrs.  Bates  waltzed 
with  him  with  an  ease  that  surprisea  even 
herself.  She  had  not  realize,  oefore  how 
Completely  her  health  and  strength  were 
restored.  Jerves  wondered  whether  she 
would  waltz  with  him,  and,  with  his  usual 
sagacity,  deciding  that  the  only  way  to 
know  was  to  ask  her,  did  so,  and  she  con- 
sented, but  after  dancing  a  few  minutes  she 
suddenly  stopped  and  sat  down,  trembling 
a  little,  and  looking  pale.  Jerves  thought 
she  was  ill,  but  she  said  she  was  not  at 
all.     The    feeling   had  all   at  once  come 


BOUND  CAPE  HORN.  151 

over  her  that  dancing  with  Jerves  was  too 
pleasant,  that  there  was  some  strange  at- 
traction about  it  that  she  must  resist.  The 
sensation  was  very  vague,  but,  whatever  it 
was,  it  had  controlled  her  for  an  instant. 
She  recovered  herself  quickly,  but  was 
almost  frightened,  and  would  not  dance 
any  more.  She  was  glad  when  the  music 
ceased,  and  she  went  to  bed  with  an  unac- 
countable disquiet.  She  wished  she  could 
accuse  Jerves  of  something,  but  no  — he 
had  been  as  respectful,  and  even  as  formal, 
as  any  casual  partner  at  an  evening  party. 
It  did  seem  as  if  there  was  something  more 
than  usual  in  the  steadiness  of  his  right 
arm  about  her,  and  the  tenderness  with 
which  he  held  her  hand.  He  had  never 
taken  her  hand  before,  she  remembered, 
except  the  day  when  he  came  from  the 
bark,  and  that  had  been  at  a  time  of  ex- 
cited congratulations,  and  he  had  shaken 
it  warmly.  Then  she  felt  ashamed  that 
she  should  be  thinking  so  much  about  him. 


152  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER 

and  so,  with  an  effort,  she  turned  her 
thoughts  to  the  German  captain,  and  won- 
de  ed  whether  he  had  entirely  recovered 
from  the  fever,  and  whether  Jerves's  treat- 
ment of  him  had  been  quite  correct.  ..  > 
Sleep  came  at  last.  Next  morning  she 
was  quiet,  and  almost  dull,  until  Jerves 
handed  her  the  journal,  in  which  to  write 
an  account  of  the  dance,  which  after  a 
while  she  did,  with  uncommon  spirit  and 
humor — -perhaps  more  than  were  quite 
natural.  Jerves  was  not  altogether  satis- 
fied. She  had  a  good  deal  to  say  about 
the  moonlight,  and  about  the  dancing  of 
the  sailors,  and  of  the  captain  and  his  wife, 
but  not  a  word  of  herself,  scarcely  a  word 
of  him.  After  the  ance  Jerves  had  not 
cared  for  a  pipe,  but  brought  one  of  his 
choicest  cigars  and  a  bottle  of  claret,  and 
sat  until  every  one  but  the  watch  on  deck 
was  fast  asleep.  He  thought  of  Mrs.  Bates'a 
dancing,  and  wondered  if  her  friend  Jere 
had  received  the  letter  from  the  Trust  Com- 


BOUND  CAPE  HORir.  153 

pany  yet,  and  whether  it  was  likely  she 
would  hear  about  it  when  they  reached 
Honolulu.  He  thought  he  might  have 
given  more — though  perhaps  it  was  better 
as  it  was.  The  obligation  to  the  imknown 
benefactor  might  oppress  her.  He  consid- 
ered whether  there  was  any  other  way  in 
which  he  could  do  something  for  her  ad- 
vantage.  He  had  a  good  deal  of  money, 
more  than  he  knew  what  to  do  with.  With* 
out  almost  purposely  wasting  it,  he  could 
not  spend  his  income.  Perhaps  she  could 
advise  him  what  to  do  with  it.  He  was 
tempted  to  consult  her.  But  this  might 
seem  to  be  making  parade  of  his  wealth, 
and  the  contrast  with  her  poverty  might 
afflict  her.  He  did  not  think  it  would ;  she 
was  superior  to  any  feeling  of  envy.  Still, 
it  might  give  her  a  momentary  pang.  And 
if  he  consulted  with  her,  it  would  effec- 
tually prevent  him  from  using  any  of  his 
money  for  her  benefit  if  he  should  here- 
after see  any  opportunity  to  do   it.     He. 


164  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

compared  her  with  the  girl  he  had  first  been 
engaged  to,  and  she  seemed  to  belong  to 
an  entirely  different  species.  If  he  had 
met  with  a  woman  like  this  in  his  youth, 
he  would — well,  he  would  have  had  an 
entirely  different  opinion  of  the  sex.  He 
wondered  again  what  sort  of  a  brute  her 
husband  had  been,  for  surely  he  could  be 
only  a  thorough  brute  who  would  treat  such 
a  woman  with  anything  but  care  and  ten- 
derness. He  was  not  a  marrying  man  him- 
self; he  had  long  ago  resolved  never  to 
marry  and  had  not  the  slightest  intention 
of  changing  his  mind^,  but  there  were  lots 
of  men  for  whom  she  would  make  a  splen- 
did wife.  She  was  young  yet  —  only 
twenty-eight  —  such  a  woman  ought  not 
to  remain  unmarried.  There  was  Rollins, 
the  mate — he  would  be  master  next  voyage; 
as  fine  a  fellow  as  ever  shipped.  Well,  he 
was  not  exactly  the  right  one,  though  she 
might  do  worse^  He  thought  over  his  club 
acquaintance,  but  failed  to  recall  one  that 


ROUND  CAPE  HORN,  165 

he  thought  exactly  suitable,  and,  his  cigar 
being  out,  he  went  to  bed. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  after 
the  journal  had  been  written  out,  he  took 
the  steward  forward,  and  by  dint  of  much 
humming  and  whistling  he  taught  that  un- 
learned musician  a  new  waltz.  Jerves 
wanted  another  dance,  and  they  had  one 
that  same  night.  Mrs.  Bates  was  for  a 
moment  disposed  to  refuse,  but  thought  she 
would  not  be  so  foolish,  and  she  danced  all 
the  evening.  . 

And  so  the  good  ship  kept  on  northward 
towards  the  equator,  and  all  went  well. 
There  were  no  quarrels  among  the  little 
group  of  passengers,  though  many  lively 
discussions  on  many  subjects.  There  \tas 
not  likely  to  be  stagnation  of  the  intellecll 
where  the  captain  and  Mrs.  Bates  were. 
Jerves  had  also  his  opinions,  and,  except  on 
the  question  of  matrimony,  they  generally 
were  founded  on  reason  and  good  sense. 
On  that  subject  there  had  lately  been  a 


156  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATE  J. 

truce,  though  the  captain's  charming  wife 
was  little  inclined  to  regard  it,  and  it  was 
impossible  entirely  to  suppress  the  captain's 
chaff.  His  wife  had  an  idea  that  here  werQ 
two  capital  subjects  for  matrimony  right  at 
hand,  and  she  poured  out  her  views  freely 
to  her  husband.     ^  g;;  . 

"  Now  those  two  ought  to  be  married," 
she  said.  "  I  don't  see  why  they  are  not 
exactly  suited  to  each  other."    ,     .  i  v-cc 

"Perhaps  you  don't,  my  dear,  but  if  they 
don't  happen  to  think  so,  I  don't  exactly 
see  how  you  are  to  make  them."  ^ 

"But  they  ought  to  think  so  without 
any  making.  Jerves  is  a  very  good  fellow, 
and  I  am  sure  Helen  is  just  as  lovely  as 
she  can  be.'V  -^.^:y  :\:'':;r-^s...%M:;:a:^^,:  -o.^-  -vr^v^.^^ 

"Granted.  But  suppose  Jerves  doesn't 
want  a  wife,  and  Helen  doesn't  want  a  hus- 
band?" 

"  Now  you  know  Jerves  ought  to  have  a 
wife.  Do  you  think  a  man  of  his  age 
ought  to  be  rambling  round  the  world  in 


BOUND  CAPE  HORN.  157 

this  way  without  a  woman  to  look  after 
him?"       '  .    >^        ^ 

"That's  just  it.  He  wants  to  ramble 
where  he  likes,  without  any  woman  inter- 
fering with  him."  f" 

"I  am  sure  Helen  wouldn't  interfere  aiiy 
more  than  was  good  for  him.  He  ought 
to  be  interfered  with.  He  would  be  all  the 
better  for  it." 

"  I  don't  know  that  Helen  would  like  in- 
terference any  better  than  he."  , 
^  "  I  am  afraid  myself  she  would  be  rather 
loth  to  give  up  her  independence  agaiu." 

"  Then,  besides,  don't  you  see,  he  is  sa 
rich,  and  she  is  so  poor,  she  would  always 
]b§  feeling  uncomfortable  about  it."  u.  | 

"  He  should  make  her  a  wedding  present 
large  enough  to  give  her  a  handsome  in- 
come for  her  own  use."  m^ 

"  That  would  be  nice.  And  then  when 
she  didn't  want  to  live  with  him,  she  could 
go  and  live  somewhere  else." 

^*She  always  would  want  to  live  with 


158  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

him.  I  am  sure  he  would  be  very  good  to 
her.  And  Helen  would  never  quarrel  with 
any  one  who  was  reasonable.'*  x 

"  I  don't  think  myself  she  would  pull  his 
hair,  or  scratch  his  face,  or  anything  of 
thatkmd."  "    ^    ^ 

"Now  you  know  she  would  never  give 
him  an  unkind  word."  ^> 

,  "  You  can't  say.  Even  the  gentle  Helen 
might  be  made  angry.  I  knew  one  of 
the  sweetest-tempered  little  women  in  the 
world  to  get  awfully  vexed  —  once." 

"  And  awfully  sorry  she  was,  too,  after- 
wards, I  remember."  ■■        ^   : 

"  So  sorry  she  forgave  the  offender." 

"I  think  it  was  he  who  forgave.  But 
never  mind  that  any  more,  dear.  I  think 
we  ought  to  manage  to  bring  those  two 
together." 

"They  seem  to  be  fairly  together  now, 
as  nearly  as  I  can  see.  They  are  playing 
cribbage  together,  and  very  peaceably." 

"  How  stupid  you  can  be  when  you  try ! 
I  am  quite  proud  of  you." 


ROUND  CAPE  HORN.  159 

"Thank  you,  my  dear.  Anyway,  I 
doubt  if  I  am  brilliant  enough  to  ^  bring 
together,'  as  you  call  it,  two  people  who 
don't  want  to  marry  at  all."  - 

"  How  do  you  know  they  don't  want  to 
marry?" 

"  I  haven't  noticed  any  signs  that  they 
did." 

"I  don't  suppose  they  have  made  any 
signals  to  you,  but  I  think  they  would 
make  an  awfully  nice  couple." 

"  So  perhaps  would  a  good  many  others 
who  don't  want  to  marry  each  other  any 
more  than  these  two.  I  think  I  could 
draw  up  a  marriage  contract  that  would 
about  meet  this  case,  if  you  must  have 
them  married,  whether  or  no."       - 

"I  wish  you  would.  I  should  like  to 
see  it."  :     ' 

So  the  captain  hunted  up  pencil  and 
paper,  and  "retired  into  himself,"  and 
presently  produced  what  he  called  a  con- 
tract. 


160  CBUI8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

"  There,"  said  he,  "  I  haven't  taken  time 
to  put  it  into  complete  legal  form,  but  I 
think  that  would  about  satisfy  both  these 
parties." 

This  is  a  copy  of  it:- 

This  contract  of  marriage  between  HE  of  the  first 
part,  and  SHE  of  the  second  part,  witness- 
eth;  — 

1.  Neither  party  is  to  interfere  with  the  other 
in  any  manner  whatsoever^ 

2.  Both  parties  are  at  full  liberty  to  do  what- 
ever they  please,  without  being  responsible  to  the 
other.  .  ^ 

3.  Neither  party  shall  pay  any  cf  the  debts  of 
the  other,  or  contribute  in  any  way  t  the  support 
of  the  other. 

4.  Both  parties  may  live  where  they  choose  on 
condition  of  paying  their  own  expenses.  #   * 

5.  Neither  party  shall  visit  the  other  unless 
specially  invited. 

6.  Endearing  epithets,  such  as  "  Delight  of  my 
existence,"  "Joy  of  my  soul,''  and  the  like,  are 
strictly  prohibited. 

7.  Certain  expressions  indicative  of  intense  af- 
fection (which  are  hereafter  to  be  agreed  on),  such 
as  "  How  do  you  do  this  morning  ?  "  and  "  Good- 
night," may  be  used  by  each  once  daily. 


>    * 


BOUND  CAPE  HORN. 


161 


8.  The  party  of  tlie  second  part  shall  not  en- 
force her  views  by  the  throwing  of  dishes  or  in 
any  similar  manner. 

9.  The  party  of  the  first  part  shall  not  box  the 
ears  of  the  party  of  the  second  part  without  giving 
three  days  previous  notice  in  writing.  ^  ^    ,^..,. 

10.  Any  breach  of  the  conditions  of  this  con- 
tract shall  be  sufficient  cause  for  instantaneous 
divorce. 


"Well,  how  do  you  like  it?"  said  the 
captain.     "  Do  you  think  it  will  answer  ?  " 

"  It's  no  more  absurd  than  you  are." 

"You  couldn't  expect  it.  When  they 
ask  me  to  make  a  contract  for  them,  I'll 
make  a  jolly  good  one,  but  meanwhile  I 
think  this  will  suit  them  very  well." 

So  the  captain's  wife  found  she  could 
p^o  help  from  her  husband,  and  went 
away,  racking  her  bright  little  brain  as  to 
how  she  should  bring  about  what  she  had 
determined  was  one  of  the  most  desirable 
things  in  the  world.   ^  I 

But  the  party  of  the  first  part  and  the 
party  of  the  second  part  both  went  on  in 


162  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

their  usual  way,  excellent  friends,  and  per- 
haps each  gaining  in  the  esteem  and  re- 
gard of  the  other,  but  without  any  appar- 
ent inclination  towards  a  closer  relation. 
If  they  thought  of  any  other  relation,  it 
was  rather  as  something  that  might  have 
been  than  as  anything  possible  yet  to  be. 
If  her  husband  had  been  more  like  Jerves, 
she  may  have  thought,  she  would  have 
been  spared  much  sorrow.  If  I  had  met 
such  a  woman  as  this  in  my  youth,  Jerves 
may  have  said  to  himself,  I  should  have 
been  a  happier  man.  It  was  too  late  now  j 
he  was  too  old.  Perhaps,  without  their 
being  conscious  of  it,  these  very  feelings 
made  them  more  gentle  and  friendly  than 
they  would  otherwise  have  been.  One 
evening,  when  all  were  sitting,  chatting 
and  telling  stories  together,  the  captain 
spoke  among  other  things  of  a  man  he 
iaiew  who  fancied  himself  very  much  in 
love  with  a  certain  lady.  He  was  very 
attentive  to  her,  and  made  her  presents. 


f 


/  BOUND  CAPE  HORN.  168 

and  asked  her  to  marry  him  so  many  times 
that  she,  having  no  other  particular  en- 
gagement on  hand  at  the  time,  finally  con- 
sented, though  not  caring  for  him  in  the 
least,  as  she  freely  avowed.  She  said  she 
had  a  sister,  a  widow,  who  was  much  bet- 
ter suited  for  him  than  she  was,  and  she 
wished  he  would  go  West  and  see  her. 
She  was  sure  he  would  be  much  more  in 
love  with  her  sister  than  he  was  with  herw 
But  the  man  declined  to  go  West  and  in- 
sisted on  marrying  the  young  lady;  and  he 
bought  a  fine  house  and  furnished  it,  and 
the  wedding  day  was  fixed,  the  wedding 
joi^mey  arrai  Q:ed,  and  all  their  plans  duly 
Ti;  ide.  ^:  ^  '  or  four  days  before  the  one 
fixed  for  the  wedding,  the  widowed  sister 
arrived  from  the  West,  according  to  agree- 
ment. She  was  to  get  the  house  into  run- 
ning order  during  the  absence  of  the  new 
couple,  and  have  it  in  readiness  for  them 
on  their  return. 

She  came,  and  she  also  saw  and   con* 


1S4  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATES^ 

quered,  for,  when  the  wedding-day  arrived, 
it  was  she  who  went  to  the  altar,  and  not 
the  other;  and  the  other  stayed  at  home 
and  lighted  the  fires  and  set  in  motion 
the  nuptial  festivities.  The  arrangement 
seembv     o  be  satisfactory  to  all  parties. 

Now  if  No.  1  had  withdrawn  without 
finding  another  wife  for  the  man,  she 
would  have  been  thought  a  heartless  co- 
quette, and  the  man  would  perhaps  have 
thought  he  could  never  Be  consoled.  And 
here  within  four  days  he  drops  No.  1  and 
takes  up  No.  2,  and  there  are  no  hearty 
broken  at  all.  And  if  he  had  married  No.  1 
it  is  also  quite  possible  ^he  would  have 
made  him  a  good  wife,  and  he  would  have 
been  just  as  happy  with  her  as  he  was  with 
No.  2. 

"All  which  proves  what?"  asked  Jerves* 

"  I  have  forgotten  just  what  it  does 
prove,"  answered  the  captain. 

"  What  did  you  intend  to  prove,  cap- 
tain?" inquired  Mrs.  Bates.  , 


BOUND  CAPE  HORN.  165 

**  I  believe  I  have  forgotten  that,  too  — 
but  it  ought  to  fit  into  some  of  your  argu- 
ments. If  it  suits  any  of  you,  you  are 
welcome  to  it."      -.      If   >^  ?.        r: 

*^  It  would  suit  my  old  acquaintance  who 
thought  some  one  else  could  select  a  wife 
for  a  man  as  well  as  he  could  himself/* 
said  Jerves.;^,::--  --j:rv^\-  '--:-/.z---^'  :  -  :•;./. riitl'M- 

"  It  only  proves  that  half  the  men  in  the 
world  don't  know  their  own  minds,  and 
everybody  is  aware  of  that  already,"  put  in 
the  captain's  wife.     ;    ^  * 

"  It  proves  that  women  may  sometimes 
marry  men  whom  they  do  not  love,"  said 
Mrs.  Bates. 

"  Then  the  story  suits  you  all,  and  that  is 
a  good  deal  more  than  I  expected,"  claimed 
the  captain.      vs       >        '>  ? 

"  Don't  those  women  make  just  as  good 
wives  as  if  they  were  in  love  before  they 
were  married?"  inquired  Jerves. 

"Of  course  not,"  was  the  prompt 
reply  of  the  captain's  wife. 


1 


166  CSUI8E  OF  A   WOMAir  HATES. 


u 


Some  may,  but  I  think  not  many.    I 
should  be  afraid/'  adaed  Mrs.  Bates. 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  there  were  a 
good  many/'  said  the  captain.  "I  have 
heard  it  said  a  woman  will  love  any  man 
who  is  kind  to  her."  . 

"  And  some  say  one  man  is  just  as  good 
as  another/'  added  Jerves,  and  was  imme^ 
diately  sorry  he  had  said  it,  remembering 
Mrs.  Bates's  husband.  -       ^^# 

-'  The  captain  went  on.  "And  I  have 
known  good,  middle  aged  and  elderly 
women  to  encourage  girls  to  marry  men 
Ifor  whom  they  knew  the  girls  did  not  car^ 
a  bit."  •  .  ■  ■  ■^.■'■^  .^:' m'-' 

"  Yes,  and  I  once  knew  such  a  woman  to 
urge  a  girl  to  marry  a  man  whom  she  not 
only  did  not  like,  but  who  was  absolutely  Re- 
pulsive to  her.  She  could  scarcely  think  of 
his  touching  her  without  a  shudder.  *  Oh, 
you'll  get  over  that  after  a  while,*  she 
would  say.i  jHe  is  rich,  and  can  give 
you  a  good  home,  and  I  think  he'll   be 


-..i*- 


BOUND  CAPE  HORN.  167 

kind  to  you.  I  know  he  is  stupid  and 
coarse,  but  you'll  get  accustomed  to  him. 
A  great  many  girls  lose  good  chances  by 
being  too  particular.  It  won't  do  to  be 
fussy  about  such  little  things  as  those. 
After  you  have  lived  with  a  man  a  few 
years,  you  won't  mind  his  ways  mach.' 
Now  what  do  you  think  of  that  woman*s 
advice,  Mrs.  Bates?"  f^M* 

:  "  I  think,  Mr.  Jerves,  it  was  wrong  and 
sinful.  The  girl  would  be  an  unhappy  and 
wicked  wife.  I  don't  know  which  should 
be  pitied  most,  the  wife  or  the  husband.'* 

"  And  yet  the  woman  considered  herself 
an  unusually  good  and  pious  person.** 

"  I  think  she  was  mistaken  in  her  adr 


vice." 


The  captain's  wife  did  not  see  that  this 
kind  of  conversation  tended  at  all  to 
^^  bring  those  two  together,"  as  she  had 
phrased  it,  and  decided  it  was  bedtime. 


■'■i.-:  '■■ 


CHAPTER  XI. 


HELPLESS. 


But  the  evenings  for  conversation  on 
tliis  or  other  subjects  were  coming  to  an 
end.  They  were  neanng  the  equator 
again,  with  the  usual  light,  baffling  winds, 
terrible  heat  and  occasional  storms  of  thun- 
der and  'ightning  and  rain.  Jerves  had 
long  proposed  to  himself  to  see  if  he  could 
photograph  the  ship  and  sea  by  a  flash  of 
lightning.  The  lightning  during  these 
storms  was  too  continuous  to  make  this 
easy,  but  he  contrived  a  plan  that  he 
thought  would  work.  He  set  the  instru- 
ment under  the  projecting  roof  of  the 
saloon,  in  what  he  thought  would  be  a  good 
position,  and  covered  it  with  a  heavy  tar- 
paulin.    The  portion  that  covered  the  lens 

he  would  raise  by  means  of  cords,  at  the 

# 

i6i 


HELPLESS.  169 

same  time  that  he  removed  the  cap  from 
the  lens.     - 

At  what  he  thought  a  suitable  moment 
lie  would  remove  and  replace  the  cap  and 
lower  the  tarpaulin  over  the  whole.  Be- 
tween the  flashes  the  darkness  was  intense, 
and  he  hoped  he  could,  by  acting  very 
quickly,  take  and  preserve  a  negative  that 
he  could  develop  at  leisure.  He  waited 
almost  impatiently  for  a  thunder-storm,  and 
one  evening  it  came.  His  success  was  com- 
plete so  far,  but  just  as  he  had  got  the  cap 
replaced,  an  extraordinary  flash  came  and 
every  person  on  deck  was  stricken  down. 
The  man  at  the  wheel  was  thrown  vio- 
lently against  the  rail,  the  mate  fell  heav- 
ily to  the  deck,  and  the  mizzen  top-gallant 
mast  was  shivered  to  splinters.  The  cap- 
tain  and  his  wife  and  Mrs.  Bates,  who  were 
watching  Jerves  from  the  saloon,  were 
blinded  and  partially  stunned.  Jerves  fell 
beside  his  camera,  dragging  it  with  him  in 
his  fall. 


170  CBUI8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

The  captain  was  the  first  to  recover  from 
the  shock,  and  he  carried  the  two  ladies  to 
their  rooms,  where  they  shortly  came  to 
their  senses,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
mate  and  the  man  at  the  wheel  were  able 
to  return  to  their  duties.  Jerves  was  not 
to  be  seen,  but,  on  search  being  made,  he 
was  found  quite  unconscious  under  the  tar- 
paulin, which  had  fallen  over  him.  He 
had  been  standing  near  the  foot  of  the 
mast  that  had  been  struck,  and  had  re- 
ceived more  of  the  shock  than  the  others. 
They  removed  him  to  bed,  but  it  was  long 
before  he  recovered  consciousness,  and 
when  he  did  he  found  that  the  slightest 
light  gave  him  exquisite  pain.  They  ban- 
daged, and  did  all  that  thefr  knowledge  of 
such  things  prompted,  but  no  one  slept 
much  that  night.  It  was  a  sad  time. 
Perhaps  Jerves  himself  felt  less  than  the 
others,  for  all  his  senses  seemed  benumbed. 
The  morning  brought  some  alleviation, 
for  all  but  Jerves  were  able  to  be  about. 


-y 


MUI 


J 


HELPLESS.  17J 

They  brought  him  out  of  the  stifling  heat 
of  the  cabin  and  made  him  a  bed  on  the 
deck  imder  thick  awnings.  Except  from 
the  soreness  in  his  eyes,  he  suffered  little 
pain,  but  could  bear  no  light.  / 

Was  he  to  be  always  so  ?  His  thoughts 
were  very  busy,  and,  though  he  spoke 
cheerfully  and  talked  of  his  blindness  as 
a  mere  passing  incident  that  would  be  over 
in  a  day  or  two,  he  felt  a  good  deal  of 
doubt  about  it,  and  the  thought  that  he 
might  remain  in  this  useless,  helpless,  de- 
pendent condition  for  the  rest  of  his  life 
at  times  almost  drove  him  frantic. 

Jl  week  ago  he  had  felt  that  he  was 
almost  an  old  man.  In  five  years  more  he 
would  be  forty,  and  he  remembered  how  ia 
his  youth  he  had  thought  that  a  man  of 
forty  could  have  little  but  old  age  to  look 
forward  to.  At  thirty-five,  forty  did  not 
look  so  much  like  old  age,  but  forty-five 
would  soon  come,  an(!  there  could  not  be 
much  worth  living  for  after  that. 


172  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

Now,  lie  thought,  he  was  only  thirty- 
five,  and  there  might  be  twenty,  thirty, 
even  thirty-five  more  years  of  life  before 
Iiim(  Thirty-five  years  of  helplessness, 
of  dependence  on  others,  of  deprivation 
of  all  the  pleasures  the  world  had  in 
store !  Was  life  worth  having  on  such  ' 
terras?  •  '    ■  -.rT^''"" 

If  he  had  been  bom  blind,  he  might 
have  trained  other  senses  to  supply  in  part 
that  of  sight ;  but  now  it  was  too  late. 
There  could  be  no  joys  to  come,  he  could 
do  nothing  but  remember  those  that  were 
past.  He  tried  to  recall  things  he  had 
seen,  to  fix  them  afresh  in  his  memory,  so 
that  he  might  have  them  to  think  of  here- 
after. Lying  there  on  his  mattress,  he 
thought  of  many  things,  while  the  others 
spoke  quietly,  not  knowing  whether  he 
was  asleep  or  awake.  It  was  a  weary  day 
to  all.  The  next  day  he  had  even  less 
pain,  but  the  light  was  equally  painful. 
He   could   sit   up   and    could    talk,  and, 


•V-, 


HELPLESS.  178 

though  all  had  doubts  about  his  ever  re- 
covering his  sight,  they  took  their  tone 
from  him,  and  spoke  as  if  they  thought  it 
certain.  He  asked  Mrs.  Bates  to  write  up 
the  journal  and  read  it  to  him,  which  she 
did.  What  she  wrote  about  his  blindness 
was,  "  Mr.  Jerves  has  not  even  yet  recov- 
ered the  use  of  his  eyes."  Her  own  diaiy 
read  very  differently  from  that.  She  still 
had  some  hope,  but  it  was  slight.  To  em- 
ploy him,  she  asked  him  to  hold  some 
skeins  of  yarn  for  her  to  wind,  and  made 
him  cut  the  leaves  of  a  book  she  did  not 
want  to  read.  She  induced  him  to  dictate 
something  for  the  journal,  and  kept  him 
about  it  as  long  as  she  could.  The  captain 
came  and  talked  a  little,  but  enforced 
cheerfulness  was  more  than  he  could  stand, 
and  he  went  away  again.  His  wife  spoke 
more  naturally  than  the  rest,  and  the  boys 
played  about  a  good  deal  as  usual.  The 
general  atmosphere  was  more  cheerful,  and 
after  a  while  Jerves  himself  felt  as  if  his 


174  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

blindness  might  be  only  temporary,  and  so 
his  despondency  passed  away  somewhat. 
Still,  he  could  not  move  without  guidance ; 
could  not  cut  his  own  food ;  could  not  find 
the  paper-cutter  that  he  had  dropped.  Ho 
was  almost  helpless.  There  were  plenty  of 
hands  at  his  service,  but  he  found  that 
the  hands  of  Mrs.  Bates  were  the  readiest, 
and  it  was  she  who  was  quickest  to  divine 
his  wishes,  and  she  who  led  him  most  care- 
fully. She  gave  him  something  to  do  to 
occupy  his  mind  and  divert  his  thoughts 
as  much  as  she  could.  She  made  him  talk 
of  things  they  had  spoken  of  before,  and 
tell  of  things  he  had  seen  in  his  travels,  of 
Nuremberg  and  Constantinople,  of  Egypt 
and  the  pyramids.  His  description  of 
quaint  old  Nuremberg  was  so  graphic  and 
interesting  she  made  him  repeat  it  all,  so 
that  she  might  write  ||,  down.  His  mem- 
ory was  good,  and,  besides  that,  his  de- 
scriptions were  the  more  vivid  from  his 
loss  of  sight.     It  is  probable  that  he  chose 


BELPLS£-%  175 

his  words  and  made  them  more  clear, 
purely  as  an  intellectual  exercise.  He 
was  full  of  anecdotes,  and  told  many 
stories,  though  somehow  they  seemed  to 
be  mostly  of  scenes  of  sorrow  and  suffer- 
ing, as  if  those  came  imconsciously  to  his 
mind.  The  story  of  a  friend  of  his  fam- 
ily, a  young  girl,  dying  alone  and  unloved, 
in  Paris,  he  told  with  a  pathos  that  made 
all  their  hearts  ache. 

He  insisted  on  having  another  concert 
such  as  they  had  before,  and  to  please  him 
they  carried  out  the  project,  and  Mr.  Bows 
sang  some  of  his  loudest  and  some  of  his 
most  comical  songs ;  but  when  Jerves  stood 
up  to  sing,  with  the  black  bandage  over  His 
eyes,  the  captain  choked,  his  wife  burst 
into  tears,  and  Mrs.  Bates's  accompani- 
ment broke  down. 

Another  day  he  wanted  a  quotation,  and 
Mrs.  Bates  found  it  for  him,  and  afterwards 
read  the  whole  poem  to  him,  to  his  great 
enjoyment.     After  that,  reading  became  a 


176 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 


frequent    occupation    for    her.      She  was 
always  at  hand  when  wanted,  and  never  in 
tiie  way. 
t  And  so  the  days  ran  on. 


i  I.   > 


■■'>* 


•■(i  "-:' 


CHAPTER  Xn.  • 

One  morning  a  very  early  riser  would 
have  found  the  captain  quietly  walking  the 
deck  long  before  daylight.  Rollins  and 
Bows  were  also  both  at  hand,  and  two 
extra  men  on  the  lookout  in  the  tops. 
There  was  an  air  of  expectancy  over  the 
ship,  until  suddenly,  "  Land  ho ! "  was 
heard  from  the  maintop,  and  Rollins  was 
quickly  in  the  rig^mg  ^I'h  his  binocular. 
The  captain  stopped  a  minute,  and  then 
continued  his  walk.  The  word  had  come 
half  an  hour  sooner  than  he  expected,  that 
was  all,  and  it  did  not  excite  him  in  the 
least.  ^ 

Soon  the   day  broke,   and  before   long 

something  like  a  great  w.    te  cloud  r  :ting 

on  a  dark  base  was  visible  from  the  deck. 

177 


178  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

A  long  look  at  it  through  the  glass,  and 
the  captain  called  down  the  companionway, 
"  Carrie !  Boys !  Tumble  up  here,  land 
is  in  sight !  "  —  and  "  Land,  land,  land ! " 
rang  through  the  cabins  and  saloon. 

"  Tumble  up  "  the  boys  did,  regardless  of 
costume,  and  the  ladies  and  Jerves  were 
not  long  after  them.  -        i 

"Where  is  the  land?  I  don't  see  any 
land,"  cried  they  all,  after  straining  their 
eyes  in  the  direction  in  which  every  one 
was  looking. 

"  Do  you  see  that  great  white  cloud 
yonder?"  • 

^    "Yes."  "  ru 

"  That  is  the  snow-covered  top  of  Mauna 
Kea,  and  near  Mauna  Kea  is  Mauna  Loa, 
and  on  the  side  of  Mauna  Loa  is  one  of 
the  greatest  volcanoes  in  the  world-  and 
under  it  is  Hawaii,  one  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  that  we  started  more  than  three 
months  ago  to  find." 

And  m  tihey  dretr  towards  tne  laim,  me 


&; 


HONOLULU,  179 

cloud  growing  larger  and  its  base  darker  as 
they  went  on.  Then  the  shores,  were 
plainly  to  be  seen  and,  they  passed  the  day 
IQ  watching  them  and  describing  the 
changing  views  to  each  other  and  to 
Jerves. 

Night  came  on  again,  and  the  fires  of 
Kilauea  took  the  places  of  the  cloud  and 
the  mountain.  Daylight  showed  them  the 
high  peaks  of  Oahu  right  ahead,  and  they 
passed  rapidly  by  lovely  Waikiki  and 
Leahi,  and  before  noon  were  safely  at 
anchor  in  the  outer  harbor  of  Honolulu, 
and  soon  after  all  had  exchanged  the  cosey 
and  pleasant  saloons  and  cabins  of  the 
Ajax  for  larger  but  scarcely  more  pleasant 
rooms  at  the  Hawaiian  Hotel.  ;  i 

c^  At  Honolulu,  Jerves  consulted  all  the 
physicians  he  came  across,  local  and  pass- 
ing, surgeons  of  men-of-war  and  of  passen- 
ger steamers,  but  without  satisfaction. 

The  only  real  encouragement  he  got  was 
from  the  surgeon  of  an  English  steamer, 


180  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

one  of  those  ignorant  young  fellows  some- 
times carried  on  those  ships, — men  whose 
principal  medical  qualifications  consist  in  a 
capacity  for  singing  jolly  songs  and  telling 
an  infinite  number  of  stories  in  the  smok- 
ing-rooms. This  one  told  him  he  thought 
his  sight  would  come  back  as  suddenly  as 
it  had  been  lost. 

It  is  needless  to  say  Jerves  did  not  value 
this  opinion  highly,  and  thought  the  sover- 
eign he  paid  for  it  rather  poorly  invested. 
The  M.  D.  promptly ,  handed  the  coin  over 
to  the  steward  of  his  ship  on  account,  but 
the  subsequent  proceedings  hardly  tended 
to  lighten  his  indebtedness  to  that  func- 
tionary.  Total  abstinence  when  on  duty 
was  a  rule  of  the  ship,  but  in  port  the 
regulation  could  hardly  be  expected  to  be 
observed.  v* 

Jerves  met  in  Honolulu  of  course  the 
usual  number  of  "globe  trotters,"  and 
among  them  two  or  three  that  he  had 
met  before.  ^-^^  ^ 


t  ^: 


HONOLULU,     ^i  -     f  181 


One  of  them  was  a  former  acquaintance 
in  Colorado.  When  Jerves  knew  him 
there  he  was  fresh  from  New  England, 
and  had  all  the  usual  New  England  habits 
of  speech ;  but  later  he  had  taken  a  pride 
in  casting  them  all  off  and  in  taking  on 
Western  directness  and  force,  with  the  idea 
that  bluntness  indicated  honesty,  and  that 
impertinence  was  only  plain  speaking. 
This  man,  whose  name  was  Dulcifer,  but 
who  came  to  be  known  and  spoken  of  and 
even  sometimes  addressed  as  "Mr.  Colo- 
rado,"—  a  name  which  did  not  displease 
him,  —  attached  himself  to  our  party  as 
much  as  he  could,  and  went  everywhere 
with  it  when  not  prevented.  Jerves  was 
mostly  confined  to  a  dark  room,  with  a 
bandage  over  his  eyes,  but  he  insisted  on 
being  left  alone  rather  than  deprive  the 
others  of  the  pleasure  of  viewing  the  inter- 
esting and  varied  attractions  of  the  Is- 
lands. Their  numerous  rides  and  drives^ 
which  they  enjoyed  extremely,  were  there- 


182  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

fore  mostly  taken  without  him.  For  Mrs. 
Bates,  to  be  on  horseback  was  a  delight  she 
had  not  experienced  for  many  years,  and 
little  Harry  was  the  most  attached  of 
squires.  They  all  gratified  Jerves  by 
going  on  excursions,  and  gratified  them- 
selves by  returning  as  quickly  as  possi- 
ble. The  amount  of  talk  they  all  made 
out  of  a  trip,  that  ought  to  ha-  o  taken  a 
day  but  was  run  over  in  a  few  hours,  sur- 
prised the  Colorado  man,  who  would  have 
told  all  about  it  and  dismissed  the  subject 
in  five  minutes.  He  could  not  see  that  the 
quick  return  and  long  talks  were  for  the 
purpose  of  ""^'eving  Jerves  in  the  tedium 
of  his  lent.      Once   they  induced 

Jerves  .     them  in   an   excursion  by 

water  tc  ^  .kik?..  He  was  sensiti  e 
about  apj.  .^  in  public  on  shore,  but 
alone  with  .  friends  he  scarcely  thought 
of  his  bandc  *s.  This  time  the  captain 
thought  he  ha  got  away  without  "  Colo- 
rado,'*   whose     Tesence    always    annoyed 


,  HONOLULU.  ,  ;^  188 

him.  He  could  scarcely  compel  himself 
to  treat  him  with  reasonable  courtesy, 
and  often  wished  he  could  have  him  at 
sea  for  a  while,  where  he  would  give  him 
ample  opportunity  to  keep  a  lookout  from 
the  fore  top.  His  wife  was,  perhaps,  even 
less  inclined  to  be  courteous  than  himself. 
That  sweet-temDered  lady,  ordinarily  one 
of  the  most  amiable  of  her  sex,  became 
especially  angry  when  she  once  discov- 
ered that  Mr.  Colorado  was  paying  more 
than  really  necessary  attention  to  her 
friend  Helen.  She  watched  him  sharply, 
and  made  such  remarks  to  him  that  if 
gentle  sarcasm  could  have  destroyed  a 
pachyderm,  Mr.  Colorado  would  have  been 
obliterated.  But  that  gentleman's  thick 
skin  was  also  too  well  overlaid  with  good 
opinion  of  himself  and  all  that  belonged  to 
him  to  allow  her  shafts  to  penetrate  it,  and 
he  took  it  all  very  smilingly,  considering 
that  it  was  only  her  natural  manner,  and 
iireceivlng  it  Ld  the  same  spirit  in  which  the 


184  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

Yorkshireman  received  his  wife's  beatings. 
"It  bleezes  she,  an'  don't  urt  I."  Even 
all  the  small  coin  he  expended  in  induc- 
ing the  youthful  islanders  to  swim  and 
dive  for  the  amusemont  of  her  boys 
failed  to  mollify  her.  "  P 

This  day  the  captain  thought  he  had  got 
safely  away  without  him,  and  almost 
chuckled  over  the  little  ruse  by  which  he 
had  accomplished  it ;  but  they  had  not  been 
long  on  shore  before  Colorado  arrived  in  a 
boat  by  himself,  and  began  to  apologize  for 
being  late,  and  said  he  was  glad  they  had 
not  felt  obliged  to  wait  for  him.  The  cap- 
tain told  him  he  had  not  felt  at  all  obliged, 
and  his  wife  sharply  added,  "Oh,  not  in 
the  least.  I  was  not  even  aware  you  had 
been  invited." 

"There,  I  suspected  you  had  forgotten 
me,"  he  said.  >  - 

"I  don't  think  you  were  forgotten  at 
all/'  said  Jerves,  and  the  captain  was  on 
the  point  of  saying  something  that  could 


-#i- 


HONOLULU.  186 

by  no  possible  meaus  have  been  construed 
as  complimentary,  had  not  Mrs.  Bates 
stopped  him.  She  would  rather  endure 
the  man's  company  than  have  a  quarrel. 
Colorado  noticed  her  look  to  the  cap- 
tain, and  ignored  Jerves's  words,  resolved 
to  have  his  revenge  later.  He  thought  the 
look  was  a  reproof  for  their  rudeness,  and 
an  intimation  that  she  wished  him  to 
remain.  Any  way,  remain  he  did,  and 
was  as  polite  as  he  knew  how  to  be.  If 
he  vexed  the  captain  and  his  wife  perpetu- 
ally by  grinding  up  all  sentiments,  fancies, 
and  feelings,  in  his  mill  of  coarse  matter-of- 
fact,  there  was  a  certain  air  of  geniality  in 
the  manner  in  which  he  poured  them  into 
the  hopper,  that  made  it  hard  to  take 
offence.  He  even  thought  Mrs.  Bates  en- 
joyed his  society,  for  though  she  said  but 
little  she  smiled  occasionally  at  some 
quaint  westemism  of  language,  which  he 
took  for  encouragement  to  go  on.  So  he 
made  himself  very  much  at  home,  and  ex- 


186  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

erted  himself  to  be  agreeable,  and  carried 
the  burden  of  the  conversation.  He  was  a 
good  deal  attracted  by  Mrs.  Bates,  and 
having  interviewed  Rollins,  and  treated 
Bows,  and  quizzed  the  captain  and  his 
wife  with  scanty,  but  as  he  thought  suffi- 
cient results,  he  decided  that,  with  her  at 
the  head  of  the  finest  house  and  the  broad- 
est table  at  Denver,  there  was  no  position, 
social  or  political,  to  which  he  might  not 
aspire.  He  had  not  been  obliged  to  "take 
account  of  stock"  for  several  years,  but 
now  he  counted  up  his  cattle  ranches  and 
silver  mines,  and  calculated  how  much  he 
could  ajBEord  to  expend  per  annum  in  sup- 
port of  his  aspu^ations.  The  result  was 
satisfactory,  and  he  resolved,  as  he  ex- 
pressed it  to  himself,  to  "go  in  for  her." 
But  he  did  not  know  what  might  possi- 
bly be  her  relations  with  ^'erves.  Their 
intimacy  might  be  only  the  result  of  close 
association  during  the  long  voyage,  or  it 
might  be  something  more.     Their  manner 


HONOLULU.  187 

told  nothing,  and  he  had  got  no  informa- 
tion out  of  the  captain  or  his  wife.  He  de- 
termined to  ask  Jerves  about  it, — not  that 
the  information  he  might  get  would  make 
any  difference  in  his  resolution  to  propose  to 
her ;  —  he  would  cut  Jerves  out  if  he  could, 
and  if  it  were  necessary,  but  if  he  foimd 
there  was  no  engagement  between  them, 
his  business  would  be  the  simpler,  and  per- 
haps his  chances  of  success  better.  If 
there  was  anything  between  them,  he 
would  use  it  to  worry  and  annoy  Jerves,  in 
revenge  for  his  remark  about  not  being 
forgotten  in  the  invitations  to  the  excur- 
sion. He  was  quite  conscious  that  he 
might  meet  with  a  refusal,  but  he  would  be 
none  the  worse  off,  and  could  stand  even 
that ;  and  on  the  whole  he  would  venture 
to  risk  his  chances  against  those  of  a  blind 
man.  His  wealth  was  even  greater  than 
his  rival's,  and  his  possible  position  might 
be  much  higher  than  that  of  the  unambi- 
tious Jerves.     He  did  not  know  how  much 


188  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATES. 

these  would  count  with  Mrs.  Bates,  but  he 
had  great  confidence  in  them. 

After  a  time  the  party  scattered  about, 
amusing  themselves  as  they  liked.  Jerves 
remained  lying  on  the  grass  under  a  tree. 
Presently  Colorado  came  back  and  accosted 
him.  "  Well,  old  man,  I  found  they  had 
left  you  alone,  so  I  came  back  to  keep  you 
company."  ct^ 

*^Very  kind  of  you,"  said  Jerves,  who 
had  an  intuition  that  this  attention  had 
some  purpose  in  it,  "but  I  am  not  at  all 
lonely,  and  you  need  not  have  troubled 
yourself."'  .         .  .        %y 

"I  didn't  care  for  the  walk  anyway. 
Have  a  cigar?"  '      — ' 

"No,  thanks."  -.:^^^^  ^ 

"I  think  I'll  light  up.  When  do  you 
sail  for  Hong  Kong  ?  "    .  / 

"  In  three  days,  I  believe."  . 

"  The   surgeon  of  the thinks  you 

ought  to  go  back  to  the  States  on  account 
of  your  eyes." 


HONOLULU,  189 

«  That  was  not  his  advice  to  me." 

"  Likely  enough.  Those  fellows  like  to 
order  what  they  think  wiU  please  the 
patient."  And  after  a  pause,  he  continued, 
«  Thatllrs.  Sates  is  a  fine  woman." 

"She  would  no  doubt  be  pleased  to 
know  your  opinion  of  her." 

*^  Long  a  widow  ?  " 

"  Several  years.'*^  ^  ^  j I 

"Is  she  well  off  ?"   ^  ^ 

"  I  can't  tell  you.  Are  you  interested  in 
her  circumstances  ?  " 

"  Not  specially,  but  a  nice  woman  Uke 
that  ought  not  to  have  to  work."     '- 

"Perhaps  she  prefers  to  do  so." 

*^I  suppose  you  got  pretty  weW  ac- 
quainted with  her  on  board  ship."  K^s  - 

"Tolerably."   '^'^  .^^  ■:-:-^-:q:.V?i-#^>^ 

"  Fairly  well  educated,  isn't  she  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  she  was  veiy  well  edu- 
cated." -fl'm:\ 

"Have  you  any  notion  of  marrying 
her?" 


190  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

"  Have  you  any  notion  that  it  is  none  of 
your  business  whether  I  have  or  not  ?  " 

"  Now  don't  get  riled  at  a  fair  question. 
You  needn't  answer  if  you  don't  like.  If 
you  are  engaged  to  her  I  imagine  you 
wouldn't  be  ashamed  to  say  so,  but  if 
yon're  not,  and  I  take  a  fancy  to  her,  I 
suppose  the  game  is  open  to  me  as  well 
as  anybody  else."  '  ;  *  ^ /iS  ^ 

"  Then  it  is  only  fair  to  say  that  Mrs. 
Bates  is  not  engaged  to  me.  If  I  decline 
to  say  any  more  it  is  simply  because  it  is  a 
matter  that  does  not  concern  you."       J       I 

"That's  square.  It  don't  concern  me 
that  you  should  be  after  her,  if  you  don't 

gather."  4-->':<,  r,  .,  -u^;  im^mu^::  1-}^^^^^^^^^ 
"  I  did  not  say  I  was  after  her." 
c  "  You  didn't  deny  it,  either,  so  I  thought 
perhaps  you  were.  But  after  her  or  not,  if 
you  are  not  engaged  to  her,  I  consider 
myself  at  liberty  to  try  my  chances  if  I 
like.  I  think  she's  a  fine  woman,  and  will 
miitme." 


HONOLULU.  191 

''Have  you  any  reason  to  think  she 
faTors  you  ? "  asked  Jerves,  m  whom  a 
very  little  anxiety  smothered  a  good  deal 
of  indignation.  ^  ^^  '^      -     ^      . 

"  I  wouldn't  say  I  have.  Shouldn't  say 
whether  I  had  or  not.  But  I  can  offer  her 
a  tip-top  position,  with  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year,  and  women  rather  like  that 
sort  of  thing.  I  don't  believe  in  love  and 
all  that  stuff,  and  she  ought  to  have  got 
over  believing  in  it  by  this  time.  If  she 
hasn't,  she  won't  want  me,  and  I  don't 
want  her  either.  Fifty  thousand  dollars  a 
year  is  worth  more  to  a  woman  than  all 
the  love  that  ever  was  made."    -;m':t 

The  coarseness  of  all  this  annoyed 
Jerves  more  than  he  would  have  been  will- 
ing to  show,  and  he  only  said,  , 

"The  lady  may  not  agree  with  your 
views.  ■ym::-T:}  ^h::r^^  •__ 

"Perhaps  not,"  replied  tne  other,  "but  I 
am  going  to  find  out"  ;  and  he  laughed  as 
he    added,   "under    the    circumstances,  I 


192  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

slia'n*t  expect  any  very  hearty  congratula- 
tions from  you  if  I  succeed ;  but  I  shall  not 
ask  any  sympathy  if  I  don  t."  He  started 
to  where  he  saw  Mrs.  Bates  sitting  under  a 
tree,  while  the  others  were  buying  cocoa- 
nut  cups  and  grass  cloth  from  the  natives. 
K  he  desired  to  worry  Jerves,  he  had 
most  certainly  succeeded.  Jerves  had 
never  regretted  his  blindness  more  than 
now,  when  it  made  him  feel  unable  to 
stand  up  and  pick  a  (juarrel  with  the  fel- 
low, and  give  or  get  a  thrashing.  He 
could  not  quarrel  very  much  on  what  had 
been  said.  The  tone  was  offensive  enough, 
but  there  was  not  much  to  get  up  a  per- 
sonal quarrel  on.  The  man  had  asked  im- 
pertinent questions,  but  he  had  given  short 
or  impertinent  answers.  He  had  thought 
to  buy  Mrs.  Pates  with  his  dollars,  and 
Jerves  could  not  say  he  had  no  right  to 
try.  He  had  scoffed  at  woman's  love ;  but 
80  had  he  done  himself.  He  might  have 
said  he  had  no  intention  of  marrying  Mrs, 


HONOLULU.  193 

Bates,—  his  blindness  would  effectually  pre- 
vent his  asking  her  now,  if  he  had  ever 
been  inclined  to ;  —  but  he  wished  he  had 
some  right  to  keep  such  fellows  as  this 
away  from  her.  He  had  no  ilea  stie  woiii 
accept  him.  Some  women,  perhaps  many 
women,  would,  but  he  thought  she  would 
require  something  more  than  mines  and 
ranches.  But  it  came  over  him  bitterly 
that  he  had  been  deceived  twice  already, 
and  it  was  barely  possible  he  might  be 
again.  The  idea  was  rejected  indignantly, 
and  he  felt  as'fiamed  it  should  ever  have 
occurred  to  him.     ^  _  .^  ■  ^-■'i-k.'-^s:-.-- 


^X-  -■■'' .   XrtiisKvS-  - 


:'-v^.^^^ 


1*- 


*        ■  ~-Nt  ---  -J   -_■  -  -.  -  _.,,,  ■»  .    .    ,1-  -"_v-.    ,..;  -■  "  -■*-  ;.-.^"- 


CHAPTER  Xm.      :sm: 
MB.  Colorado's  views,  and  how  they 

WERE   RECEIVED.  : 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Colorado  (or  Mr.  Dul- 
cifer)  was  making  his  way  to  where  Mrs. 

Bates  was  sitting.  She  received  him  v/ith 
her  usual  calm  politeness,  and  asked  h:m 
to  sit  down,  with  a  view  to  keeping  him 
away  from  the  captain  and  his  wife,  and 
having  no  presentiment  of  his  purpose  in 
coming  to  her.  She  commenced  and  kept 
up  a  lively  conversation  that  helped  some- 
what to  put  him  at  his  ease,  but  brought 
him  no  nearer  to  the  point  he  desired  to 
reach.  He  tried  hard  to  get  there,  but  the 
way  was  difficult  and  led  him  all  round  by 
Bermuda  and  Cape  Horn  and  Hong  Kong, 
and  back  via  San  Francisco  to  New  York, 
before  he  came  anywhere  near  it.     He  got 

West  again  as  far  as  Colorado,  after  a 

194 


MR.   COLORADO'S  VIEWS.  195 

while.  From  there  he  could  take  the  lead 
himself,  and  he  roamed  about  among  his 
ranches  and  mines  by  a  variety  of  roads, 
that  might  be  indirect,  but  which,  he 
thought,  all  tended  in  the  right  direction. 

It  was  some  time  before  it  occurred  to 
her  to  suspect  what  the  man  was  driving 
at,  but  it  suddenly  did  come  into  her  head, 
and,  though  she  was  a  little  startled,  with 
a  bit  of  malice  she  kept  him  on.    i      W^ 

But  the  road  to  his  intended  proposal 
was  stiil  crooked,  and  a  good  deal  up  hill, 
and  he  found  he  must  take  a  short  cut  if 
he  expected  to  reach  it  that  day,  and,  in 
spite  of  all  Jerves  had  said,  he  thought  de- 
lays might  be  dangerous.  So  he  started 
by  expatiating  on  the  delightful  climate  of 
Colorado,  comparing  it  favorably  even  with 
the  delicious  air  of  Oahu ;  on  its  wonderful 
resources,  and  the  hospitality  of  its  people, 
and  its  opportunities  for  social  and  political 
distinction. 

**With  all  your  silver  and  cattle,  you 


196  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

must  be  enonnousljr  rich  yourself,"  said 
Mrs.  Bates.  ^  ■  --^:y'/M::^rm''^   -.  ^rSi>fc: v.,. 

"I  count  I  am  fairly  well  off.  There 
are  a  few  ahead  of  me,  but  not  many; 
and  I  reckon  that  in  a  few  year?  if  I  keep 
on  I  can  top  any  of  them." 

"I  wonder  you  don't  go  into  political 
life.  With  all  your  talent  and  money  and 
ambition  you  ought  to  succeed."  luSsfcli^ 
:  "  I  don't  know  that  I  sh'an't  some  day. 
Fve  got  money  enough  for  it,  if  I  take  a 
notion  that  way.'%         ^^  ^^^     ir^i#i# 

"  I  have  always  imderstood  that  the  rich 
men  carried  the  elections  in  your  State."* 

ft  *■     ;•  ^  ■■■., 

"  So  they  do  generally,  especially  if  they 
have  great  houses,  and  cut  a  swell,  and  en- 
tertam  company,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing, 
and  make  themselves  popular. 

"  Tou  might  readily  do  all  that. 

"  I  might,  only,  you  see,  I  haven't  any 
wife." 

^^If  that  is  all,  you  could  easily  get  a 
wife.    Tou  should  ^  ea^t  and  «nd  ol» 


J9 


lot  COLORADO'S  VIEWS.  197 

*'It  isn't  every  one  that  would  suit  me. 
I  should  want  one  smart  enough,  and  good- 
looking  enough,  and  well  educated  enough, 
to  carry  her  head  a  little  above  the  rest  of 
them.  I  thhik  I  see  a  woman  now  that 
could  do  it.  How  would  you  like  living  in 
Colorado  youri^elf  ?  "  .1 

"  I  don't  know  Colorado,  but  I  suppose 
if  my  interests  and  affections  were  there,  I 
could  endure  it."    fy^,(:^.,m  %^M  imr-''^ 

She  knew  well  enough  now  what  had 
brought  him  to  her  tree,  and,  having  no 
consideration  for  the  man,  and  thinkmg  he 
had  no  feelings  to  be  hurt,  she  was  not 
much  more  anno^red  than  she  was  amused, 
and  she  resolved  to  let  him  go  on.  She 
saw  the  captain  and  his  wife  approaching, 
and  having  the  ooiost  thorough  confidence 
in  their  discretion,  she  managed  to  get  a 
little  behind  Mr.  Colorado,  and  waved  them 
a  signal  to  keepi|W|jf»  The  captain's  wife 
saw  it,  and  passed  it  along  to  he-  husband, 
who  mstantly  mt   the  boys  to  skipping 


198  CRUISE  OF  A  WOMAN  HATJSB. 

pebbles,  and  he  upset  their  basket  of 
shells,  and  helped  them  pick  them  up, 
and  then  upset  it  again.  When  this  was 
done,  he  thought  the  boys  must  be  hungry 
again,  for  it  was  nearly  an  hour  since  they 
had  eaten  much  of  anything,  and  he  set 
some  of  the  natives  to  procuring  cocoanuts. 
The  boys  were  rather  surprised,  for  their 
father  usually  took  more  pains  to  persuade 
them  that  they  were  not  hungry,  than  that 
they  were. 

Mr.  Colorado,  having  got  started,  went 
on.  "  If  you  think  you  could  endure  it,  I 
would  like  to  have  you  try  it.  I  want  a 
wife,  and  I  am  sure  you  would  make  me  a 
good  one,  and  I  think  I  could  be  a  very 
tolerable  husband.  I  have  never  seen  a 
woman  I  cared  to  ask  to  be  my  wife  before, 
and  perhaps  I  may  not  express  myself  just 
right  about  it,  but  if  you  will  take  me,  I 
am  sure  I  would  do  handsomely  by  you." 

"  You  surprise  me  very  much,  Mr. 
Dulcifer.     I  did  not  know  that  you  wanted 


KB.  COLOBADO'S  VIBWSL  199 

a  wife,  much  less  that  you  wanted  me.  1 
am  only  a  poor  widow,  and  —  "     > 

"  If  you  marry  me,  you  won't  be  poor, 
and  you  won't  be  a  widow." 

"I  had  no  idea  you  cared  for  me  at 
all."   .^;»;;.:v..'-'^v:.^^      :  l-'-".--'--  :^:'::^Z 

^'  On  the  contrary,  I  think  you  would 
suit  me  perfectly.  You  are  good-looking 
enough,  and  accomplished  enough,  and 
smart  enough,  to  fill  any  position,  and  I 
could  give  you  a  good  one.^t  i?  v - 

"  That  ought  to  be  a  temptation," 

"  I  hope  so.  And  I  could  settle  twenty 
thousand  dollars  a  year  on  you.' 

"  So  much  as  that  ?  " 

*^  Yes,  or  even  more — and  I  can  give 
you  the  finest  establishment  in  Denver,  and 
the  best  horses  and  carriages,  and  the 
handsomest  diamonds,  and  —  and— -what- 
ever you  like." 

"  Are  you  sure  you  mean  all  that  ?  The 
offer  almost  makes  me  giddy." 

"  Yes,  and  more  yet.     You  and  I  to- 


>9 


200  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAir  HATER. 

gether  could  lead  the  society  of  the  state. 
In  two  years  I  could  be  governor." 

**  That  would  be  a  high  position,  Mr. 
Dulcifer,  for  a  poor  widow,  to  become  a 
governor's  wife.  I  am  afraid  it  would  be 
too  much  for  me.     I  am  not  ambitious/' 

"  Not  at  all.  You  would  become  ambi- 
tious, with  such  chances  before  you.  And 
you  would  know  how  to  carry  yourself. 
Then  in  a  couple  of  years  more  I  might 
get  to  Washington.  I  don't  imagine  there 
would  be  -^any  there  that  could  outswim 
me.  I  want  my  wife  to  be  at  the  top  of 
the  best  society  in  the  country.'* 

"  You  wish  to  have  a  wife  that  would  do 
you  credit." 

"  To  be  sure  I  do.  And  I  know  you 
could  fill  the  bill.  Come,  what  do  you 
say  ?  " 

"  Your  proposal  is  so  overwhelming,  and 
so  surprising,  and  so  strange,  I  hardly 
know  what  I  ought  to  say." 

"Then  say  Yes,  and  seal  the  bargain." 
And  he  drew  nearer  to  her. 


MR.  COLORADO* 8  VIEWS.  201 

"Not  just  yet.  Suppose  you  recapitu- 
late your  offers." 

"Recapitulate?"  To  recapitulate  in  a 
case  of  this  kind  seemed  a  cold-blooded 
proceeding,  and  he  had  been  quite  warmed 
up  before.  '^  I  can't  recapitulate.  There's 
a  splendid  house,  and  horses,  and  dia- 
monds, and  all  that,  and  twenty  thousand 
a  year  for  yourself,  and  thirty  more  for  the 
housekeeping,  and  balls,  and  parties,  arl 
such  things,  and  the  cream  of  society,  and 
of  everything  that's  going.  We  can  have 
a  swell  place  at  Newport,  if  you  like,  and 
trips  to  Europe,  and  everything  you  take 
a  fancy  to.     We  can  afford  it." 

He  was  so  excited  and  enthusiastic  at 
tho  last  that  she  almost  regretted  having 
allowed  him  to  go  so  far,  and  was  silent. 
He  continued :  "  Say  Yes,  will  you  ?  You'll 
make  me  a  very  happy  man."  And  he 
drew  nearer  again. 

**  I  shall  have  to  say  No,  Mr.  Dulcifer.'* 

"Oh,  you  don't  mean  that — con't,  don't. 


99 

I 

99 


202  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB. 

Say  Yes.    FU  do  my  best  to  make  yotx 

happy."   : :  i 

"  I  could  not  say  Yes,  Mr.  Dulcifer." 
"Don't  you  think  you  could  be  happy 
with  me  ?",;.:-; -:^-#""    "' *ni..:v':#f-vS^  K::'^- 
"I  don't  really  thmk  I  could."        >  3 
"Think  what  I  offer  you.'*^ 
"  I  have  thought  of  it  sufficiently.' 
"  And  can't  you  say  Yes  to  me  ? 

"I  cannot."  A^^M^'^^'^A^^^ 

"Cannot  I  prevail  on  you  to  change 
jrour  mind?"       «- f*  $     ? 

"  It  would  be  useless  to  try/ 

"  Is  there  no  hope  for  me  ? 

"  None  whatever." 

"Perhaps  I  haven't  spoken  just  right. 
I  don't  know  about  such  things.  But  I 
care  more  than  you  think  about  it.  Don't 
answer  right  away.  Think  it  over.  I'll 
wait  for  you.  You  are  the  only  woman 
I  ever  wanted  to  marry.  It  would  be  a 
good  thing  for  both  of  us." 

Again  he  'vas  so  earnest  that  she  really 


9> 


MB.  COLORADO'S  VLEWS.  208 

regretted  having  let  hini  si.y  so  much. 
But  she  knew  it  was  only  his  pride  that 
would  be  wounded  by  a  refusal,  and  it  was 
a  kind  of  pride  she  had  no  sympathy  for. 
Perhaps  a  lesson  might  be  good  for  him, 
and  ar^ay  lie  deserved  one.  She  would 
have  no  mercy  on  him.  The  idea  that  he 
could  buy  any  woman  he  chose!  It  was 
too  insulting.  There  were  probably  some 
he  might  buy  with  his  houses  and  dia- 
monds; but  he  could  not  buy  her.  She 
would  punish  him  relentlessly,  so  far  as  she 

could.  .:m -  '  ^'^^  "/>^ift  -f m  ' .-  • 

As  for  him,  he  was  not  accustomed  to 
defeat,  and  having  determined  to  make  her  ^ 

his  wife  if  he  could,  he  would  not  give  it 
up  until  all  chances  were  exhausted.  In- 
deed, the  difficulty-  as  usual,  only  stimu- 
lated him.  He  wanted  an  inmiediate 
acceptance  if  he  could  get  it,  but  if  he 
could  not  have  that,  he  would  take  such 
chances  as  he  could  get.  He  was  still 
afraid  Jerves  was  in  his  way,  and  he  was 


204  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAK  HATER. 

not  inclined  to  let  her  sail  for  Hong  Kong 
until  she  had  given  him  a  different  answer, 
if  he  could  help  it;  but,  if  she  did,  he 
would  follow  her  there,  and  try  again. 
His  voyage  might  be  useless,  but  if  that 
was  the  only  chance  he  could  get,  that  was 
the  one  he  would  take.  Anyivay,  she 
would  not  sail  for  three  days,  and  even  in 
that  time  something  might  be  done.  He 
would  not  give  her  up  yet. 

But  he  was  doomed  to  have  another 

blow/;*: -^ •  ,^  ^-  "^  ,)S#Il%;v.,  -y,,^_   „, 

"I  do  not  want  any  more  time,"  said 
Mrs.  Bates.  "We  should  not  suit  each 
other,  and  my  mind  is  quite  made  up  al- 
ready." 

"  Then  I  suppose  I  must  go,  if  there  is 
no  chance  of  your  changing  it.  I  am 
very  sorry.  I  hope  you  will  allow  me  to 
see  you  again." 

"If  you  never  recur  to  this  subject,  I 
shall  not  mention  your  proposition,  except 
to  my  friends  here,  and  should  meet  you,  if 


MB.  COLORADO'S  VIEWS.  206 

you  came  in  my  way,  just  as  I  should  any 
cLance  acquaintance/* 

"Good-bye.  I  wish  you  well.  Ton 
have  hurt  me  t)adly ;  but  I  will  I17  not 
to  annoy  you."  \ 

He  went  towards  the  beach,  but  she  was 
not  quite  done  with  him. 

"Mr.  Dulcifer,  before  you  go,  I  should 
like  to  ask  you  one  question.' 

"  Certainly.' 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  put  it  into 
your  head  that  I  was  for  sale  ?  "  ^ . 

"  For  sale,  Mrs.  Bates  ?  " 

"Yes,  for  sale.  Did  you  not  just  now 
try  to  buy  me  ?  " 

"  Buy  you  ?  I  never  thought  of  such  a 
thing." 

"You  offered  me  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year,  and  a  lot  of  diamonds  and 
other  things." 

"  If  you  should  be  my  wife,  yes,  but  then 
it  would  be  your  husband  that  would  give 
them  to  you." 


1  one  quesuon." 


206  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER.    ^ 

"  Or  rather,  if  I  would  have  you  for  my 
husband,  those  would  be  the  inducements. 
What  would  you  call  that  but  buying  ?  If 
1  had  been  a  slave  you  might  have  traded 
with  my  master,  but  as  I  belong  to  myself 
you  offered  them  to  me.  You  wanted  me 
to  help  your  ambitious  projects,  and  you 
promised  me  so  much  money  if  I  would 
do  it." 

"  You  forget  the  husband.'* 

**  No,  I  don't  forget  the  husband,  though 
there  was  very  little  husband  and  a  good 
deal  of  money  in  your  offer.  If  I  wanted 
a  husband  at  all,  I  should  prefer  more  hus- 
band and  less  money.  I  want  neither  you 
nor  your  money." 

It  was  clear  enough  now  that  he  had  no 
further  chance,  and  that  it  would  be  in 
vain  to  follow  her  to  Hong  Kong,  but  he 
thought  he  would  fire  a  parting  shot. 

He  was  thoroughly  angry. 

**I  offered  you  what  women  generally 
value  most.    If  you  don't  want  it,  then  I 


MR.   COLORADO'S  VUSWS.  207 

have  nothing  more  to  say.  If  you  still  have 
foolish  notions  about  love  and  devotion 
you'll  get  over  them.  I  thought  you 
might  have  got  over  them  already.  Per- 
haps the  man  you  take  for  a  husband  will 
talk  more  about  them  than  I  do,  and  not 
give  any  more  of  them,  either;  and  per- 
haps  he'll  fool  you,  and  you  him,  more 
than  I  should  you,  or  you  me.  I  hope  he 
won't  beat  you  before  you  have  been  mar- 
ried a  year."       -,M--^Md 

He  raised  his  hat  ceremoniously,  and 
departed. 

That  last  shot  in  fact  was  an  ugly  one, 
and  most  heartily  did  she  wish  she  had  not 
recalled  him. 


A        .   CHAPTER  XIV. 

MBS.  BATES  TELLS  ALL  ABOUT  IT. 

Mii.  Colorado  had  got  his  mfonnation 
out  of  Bows,  for  he  had  not  disdained  to 
take  advantage  of  Bows's  weakness.  Up 
to  a  certain  point  Bows  was  loquacious,  but 
beyond  that  he  got  ugly,  and  when  he  be- 
gan to  suspect  that  he  was  being  treated  in 
or3er  that  he  might  be  pumped,  his  ugly 
temper  came  promptly  to  the  front,  and 
Mr.  Colorado  heard  some  extremely  unpleas- 
ant language,  and  only  narrowly  escaped 
consequences  that  would  have  been  to  him 
still  more  ujipleasant.  The  shock  to 
Bows,  when  he  realized  the  attempt  that 
had  been  made  on  him,  was  so  great  that 
he  went  on  board  the  ship  quite  early  in 
the  evening,  and,  at  least,  half  sober. 

Bows  had  got  his  information,   which 

was  not  much,  out  of  Rollins,  who  had 

208 


MRS.  BATES  TELLS  ALL  ABOUT  IT.      209 

known  Mrs.  Bates's  husband  quite  well, 
G,s  they  had  been  scbool-fellows  together. 
He  t«nd  Bows  had  h  ^  having  quite  a 
long  couf ab  on  deck  0ju<j  afternoon  in  the 
dog-watches,  and  they  had  spoken  of  their 
concerts  and  of  Mrs.  Bates's  singing,  and 
so  they  spoke  of  her  and  where  she  came 
from,  and  then  of  her  husband. 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  Rollins,  "Charlie  Bates 
was  a  tip-top  fellow  till  the  drink  got 
hold  of  him,  and  then  he  was  the 
devil.  One  night  —  I  don't  think  they 
had  been  married  a  year  —  a  lot  of 
blackguards  got  him  drunk,  and  he 
went  home  and  smashed  things  to  pieces, 
and  when  she  tried  to  get  him  to  bed 
I  he  slapped  her  face  and  then  knocked 
her  down.  I  reckon  I  remember  about 
that,  for  I  undertook  to  talk  to  the  leader 
of  the  gang  the  next  day,  and  he  didn't 
take  it  kindly,  so  I  gave  him  a  jolly  good 
licking,  and  the  judge  —  he  was  a  great 
friend  of  mine,  was  the  judge  —  he  fined 


210  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEIL 

me  five  dollars  at  the  police  court.  I 
went  to  see  him  afterwards,  and  told  him 
if  he  would  agree  not  to  charge  me  more 
than  ten  the  next  time  I'd  like  to  do  it 
again,  but  the  judge  wouldn't  commute. 
The  boys  wanted  to  pass  round  the  hat  so 
they  could  all  chip  in  to  pay  the  fine,  but 
I  wouldn't  let  'em.  I  told  them  to  save 
their  money  for  the  next  time,  because  if 
the  fellow  didn't  leave  town  he'd  get 
another  pounding,  and  the  judge  would 
have  to  put  it  on  to  me  heavier.  The 
chap  cleared  out,  but  she  never  knew 
what  made  him.  I  always  call  to  see 
that  judge  when  I  am  home.  He's  told  • 
me  many  a  time  that  he  cheated  the  city 
out  of  twenty  dollars  that  day,  because  he 
ought  to  have  made  me  pay  twenty-five 
and  didn't.  We  couldn't  keep  Charlie 
from  going  down  hill,  though.  Once  he 
got  the  drink  m  him  there  was  no  stop- 
ping him.  I  think  we  were  all  rather  glad 
for  her  sake  when  he  died." 


,-••* 


MBS.  BATES  TELLS  ALL  ABOUT  IT.      211 

^^Bad  thing  that  drink.  I  wish  they 
wouldn't  make  any  more  of  it,"  said  Bows, 
as  he  turned  away  in  response  to  a  rather 
sharp  "What'u  the  matter  with  that 
weather  fore-sheet,  Mr.  Bows  ? "  from  the 
captain. 

It  would,  no  doubt,  have  been  better  for 
Mr.  Bows  if  no  more  drink  were  made,  but 
he  would  have  been  very  sorry  if  he  had 
thought  his  wish  was  likely  to  be  fulfilled. 

So  this  was  all  he  knew  about  Mrs. 
Bates's  husband,  and  all  he  could  tell  Mr. 
Colorado,  when  that  gentleman  tried  first 
to  fill  and  then  to  pump  him,  but  it  was 
enough  to  give  weight  to  a  nasty  shot. 

She  felt  both  angered  and  humiliated. 
Her  anger  at  the  mercantile  nature  of  his 
proposal  had  tempted  her  to  try  to  humili- 
ate him  needlessly,  and  now  she  felt 
ashamed  on  every  point. 

She  was  ashamed  of  her  anger,  ashamed 
at  what  it  had  prompted  her  to,  ashamed 
ci    having    talked    so    much    with    him. 


212  CRUISE  OF  A  WOMAN  EATEB. 

ashamed  of  having  placed  herself  in  a  posi- 
tion to  be  so  talked  to.  Her  anger  had  led 
her  to  try  to  obtain  a  mean  and  unworthy 
triumph,  and  she  had  succeeded,  but  felt 
none  the  better  for  it.  His  last  remark 
showed  the  meanness  of  the  man,  but  that 
did  not  console  her  at  all. 

Meanwhile  Mr.  Colorado  pursued  his 
way  to  the  shore,  and  the  way  led  him  past 
where  Jerves  had  been  lying,  and,  to  tell 
the  truth,  after  a  pipe  and  a  disagreeable 
half-hour  of  meditation,  had  been  enjoying 
a  nap.  He  was  awake  /^hen  Colorado 
came  up,  and,  recognizing  his  step,  ac- 
costed him  with,  "Well,  what  luck?'* 

"None  at  all.  Oiur  views  don't  agree, 
m  leave  her  to  somebody  else.  She  wants 
some  Hove-in-^a-cottage '  chap.  I'll  be 
away  before  you  get  back.     Good-bye." 

"  Good-bye.  I  wish  you  a  pleasant  voy-. 
age." 

Mr.  Colorado  was  angry  and  ashamed  as: 
well  as  Mrs.  Bates,  but  he  was  angry  at 


MRS,  BATES  TELLS  ALL  ABOUT  FT.      213 

himself  for  having  made  such  a  mistake  as 
to  put  the  money  before  the  husband, 
when  he  might  just  as  easily  have  done  the 
other  way.  He  was  not  so  much  angry 
with  Mrs.  Bates.  Considering  how  he  had 
blundered,  he  rather  admired  her  spirit  in 
attacking  him.  He  was  ashamed  of  him- 
self for  having  made  the  mean  speech  he 
did  at  the  last.  He  had  been  very  angry, 
and  had  violated  one  of  his  cardinal  prin- 
ciples, which  was  to  keep  cool  himself  and 
let  other  people  get  angry.  He  had 
thrown  away  all  his  chances  that  time, 
surely.  He  hurried  back  to  his  boat,  and 
was  rowed  rapidly  away.  He  would  still 
keep  track  of  her  though,  just  out  of  curi- 
osity. He  wondered  whether  there  was 
anything  between  her  and  Jerves  after  all. 
He  could  not  see  anything  that  helped  him 
to  form  any  opinion. 

As  soon  as  they  saw  him  go  away,  the 
captain  and  his  wife  came  up  to  Mrs. 
Bates.    They  were  full  of  excitement,  and 


214         CRXriSS  OF  a  W0MA29^  hatbb. 

the  captain's  wife  was  for  having  explana- 
tions and  details  on  the  spot ;  but  Mrs. 
Bates  told  her  she  must  ask  i  j  questions, 
and  she  should  hear  all  that  was  necessary 
later.  The  capl  ^'\  was  the  most  excited, 
and  shook  both  her  hands,  and  kissed  her, 
and  his  wife  excused  him. 

"  By  Jove !  It  did  me  good  to  see  the 
fellow  go  off  as  if  he  had  had  a  thrashing. 
I  hope  you  gave  it  to  him  well.  The  idea 
that  a  fellow  like  that  should  think  of 
marrying  our  Helen !  I  don't  see,  though, 
how  it  took  you  so  long  to  do  it.  I 
thought  you'd  dispose  of  him  in  about  half 
a  minute." 

That  question  of  time  was  just  a  sore 
point  with  Mrs.  Bates. 

"  Now,  captain,  please  be  quiet.  I  see  I 
shall  have  to  tell  you  all  about  it,  and  it 
isn't  to  my  credit.     Let's  go  now." 

They  went  to  the  beach,  and  all  were 
gay  but  Mrs.  Bates,  and  when  they  joined 
Jerves,  Colorado  was  not  mentioned. 


MBS.  BATES  TELLS  ALL  ABOUT  IT.      216  . 

In  the  evening,  the  three  had  a  long 
talk,  as  they  sat  on  the  piazza  of  the 
hotel. 

"  Now,  dear,  begin  at  the  beginning,  and 
tell  us  all  about  it.  I  have  waited  about 
as  long  as  I  could  with  any  pretence  of 
patience." 

"  And  I  have  waited  as  long  as  I  can, 
without  any  pretence,"  added  the  captain. 

"I  wish  I  didn't  have  to  tell  you.  I 
wasn't  a  bit  nice." 

*^  Isn't  the  rest  going  to  be  any  truer 
than  that?" 

"  Never  mind  whether  you  were  nice  or 
aot ;  tell  us  about  it,"  said  Mrs.  Bluson. 

"  He  wanted  me  to  go  and  live  in  Den- 
ver, and  help  him  spend  his  money,  and  I 
told  him  I  didn't  want  to." 

"  That  wasn't  all  ?  " 

"  No.     He  wants  to  go  to  Congress.** 

**  Did  he  ask  you  to  stump  the  state  for 
him?  There  are  too  many  of  his  sort 
there  now." 


'■^'PrS'^-^:^'--:-^' 


216  CEUI8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

"  He  thought  a  wife  would  help  him  to 
get  there." 

"  That  didn't  tempt  you  at  all,  did  it, 
dear?" 

"  No.^ 

"Was  that  all  you  had  to  tell  him  all 
that  time  I  was  stuflBing  those  boys  full  of 
cocoanuts?"      '<^  ;  ^  ^  r 

"No,  for  I  got  angry/*  f 

"Fm  glad  of  it."  .^  ;:%^^^  "f  i^lftfn   • 

"I  am  not.     I  was  very  rude." 

"Gave  him  Hail  Colunibia  for  his  pre- 
■umption,  did  youf    Served  him  right." 

"No.  But  he  seemed  to  think  any 
woman  would  be  glad  to  marry  him  for 
the  sake  of  his  great  house,  and  horses, 
and  diamonds,  and  fifty  thousand  dollars 
a  year  to  spend,  and  all  that.  That  is 
what  made  me  angry." 

"  Was  that  all  he  had  to  offer  ?  " 

"  Pretty  nearly." 

"  Didn't  he  say  how  he  had  been  dead  in 
love  with  you  from  the  first  moment  he 


JtfiA  BATES  TELLS  ALL  ABOUT  IT.      217 

saw  you,  and  that  his  life  would  be  a  buis 
den  to  him  if  you  wouldn't  have  him  ? " 

"  I  don't  think  he  did."       - 

"Nor  that  you  were  the  sweetest  and 
most  angelic  of  yoOT  sex,  and  that  your 
eyes  were  stars  of  heaven,  and  your  lips 
were  crimson  flowers."  #    -      - 

« Nothing  of  the  kind.  I  thmk  he  had 
some  Bense^\__^^:i-,/%^^  %' 

"He  don't  know  anything  at  all  about 
love-making.     That  is  the  way  I  had  to 

'••-''■'3":''  '■^'  ~'  ■.  .'       -^''- 

talk  wiien  I  went  courting.** 

"  You  were  a  great  goose,  I  confess ;  but 
I  don't  remember  hearing  anything  of  that 
sort,  I  am  happy  to  say,"  remarked  Mrs. 
Bluson. 

"  Perhaps  I  didn't  say  it  right  out  loud, 
but  only  thought  it,  and  wanted  to  say  it.'* 

"If  you  thought  it,  you  were  awfully 
mistaken,  weren't  you?'* 

.  "Well,  just   a  little,  perhaps.     Not  so 
much  as  some  people.'* 

"  Never  mind  his  nonsense,  Helen.     He 


218  CBUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

isn't  80  foolish  as  he  pretends.  Tell  us  the 
rest  of  your  story." 

"  There  is  nothing  more  to  tell." 

**You  needn't  tell  any  more.  So  long 
as  you  said  No,  that's  enough.  Though, 
if  those  boys  have  an  indigestion  to-mor- 
row, and  are  cross,  you'll  wish  you  hadn't 
been  so  long  about  it." 

"You  haven't  told  us  haK  yet,"  said 
the  captain's  wife,  whose  feminine  curios- 
ity wanted  to  have  a  verbatim  report. 

"I  understand  it  all,"  said  the  captain. 
"He  thought  Helen  was  going  to  be  so 
pleased  with  all  that  money,  and  position, 
and  so  forth,  that  she  would  throw  her 
arms  right  round  ,his  neck.  She  told 
him  she  wasn't  up  at  auction,  and  then 
she  gave  him  a  jolly  good  rating  for 
thinking  she  was.  Wasn't  it  about  so, 
Helen  ?  " 

"Your  description  is  not  very  elegant; 
but  I  think  your  ideas  are  not  far  out  of 
the  way.     I  don't  want  to  talk  any  more 


'V., 


MB8.  BATES  TELLS  ALL  ABOUT  IT.      219 

about  it.  I  was  terribly  rude.  You  would 
be  ashamed  of  me." 

"Not  a  bit  of  it.  You  did  just  right. 
Rude  to  a  rhinoceros!** 

"  Of  course  you  did  right,"  said  theloap- 
tain's  wife.  But  Mrs.  Bates  was  not  ex- 
actly of  that  opinion.  "  And  there's  poor 
Jerves,  left  alone  all  this  time,"  she  contin- 
ued, "  and  we  seem  to  have  left  him  alone 
all  day.     Let's  go  and  talk  to  him." 

"  But  you  won  t  tell  him  anything  about 
this,  will  you  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Bates,  a  little 
nervously. 

"We  shall  have  to  let  him  knc~v  Mr. 
Colorado  proposed,  and  was  refused." 

"He  must  know  that  already.  I  saw 
them  talk*  4  together.  There's  no  need 
to  say  .•^,*:^;,^^g  about  it." 

"We  won't  mention  it;  and  Jerves 
won*t  ask  impertinent  questions,"  said  the 
paptain. 

They  went  and  joined  Jerves,  who  had 
been  sitting  tilted  back  in  his  chair^  with 


220  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

his  feet  on  anotlier,  more  a  VAmhicaine 
than  was  usual  with  him.  Of  course,  he 
knew  that  Colorado  had  received  his  congiy 
and  he  would  like  to  know  just  how  it  had 
been  done,  and  wondered  how  much  they 
would  tell  him.  Colorado  had  said  she 
wanted  some  "  love-in-a-cottage  "  chap,  and 
he  was  not  certain  whether  he  had  meant 
some  particular  chap  or  not.  He  did  not 
think  there  was  any  particular  chap;  if 
there  had  been  he  would  proba^bly  hai^e 
had  some  intimation  of  it.  Anyway, 
she  was  not  likely  to  have  made  Mr. 
Colorado  her  confidant;  so  he  concluded 
there  was  not.  It  would  not  make  any 
difference  to  him ;  but  he  would  still  like 
to  know. 

Then  Rollins  and  Bows  came  in.  The 
Ajax  had  finished  discharging  her  Hono- 
lulu cargo,  and,  being  almost  ready  for  sea 
again,  Rollin  had  taken  Bows  in  charge 
for  a  run  ashore,  hoping  to  get  him  on 
board    again    in    a    seaworthy  condition. 


MBS.  BATES  TELLS  ALL  ABOUT  FT.      221 

They  talked,  and  laughed,  and  told  stories ; 
and  Jerves  had  not  been  half  as  lonely  as 
the  captain*s  wife  had  imagined.  Bows's 
sea-stories  were  inimitable  and  innimier- 
able. 


-^  ■  * 


CHAPTER  XV. 


NEWS   FROM   HOME. 


When  these  went,  and  the  others  came, 
there  was  no  reference  made  to  Colorado, 
but  Jerves  found  Mrs.  Bates  somewhat 
agitated,  as  might  reasonably  be  expected. 

Two  days  later  the  Ajax  was  ready,  and 
again  anchored  in  the  outer  harbor.  In  the 
evening  they  all  went  on  board,  and  were 
heartily  welcomed  by  all  hands,  from 
Rollins  to  the  Hawaian  cabin-boy  that 
Jerves  had  engaged  especially  to  wait  on 
him.  This  boy's  duties  proved  light,  and 
Mrs.  Bates  found  him  more  in  the  way 
than  any  thing  else. 

At  sunrise  all  were  on  deck  for  the  start, 

and  the   anchor  was  "short,"   when  Mr. 

Bows,    who    was    standing    near    Jerves, 

descried  a  thin  line  of  black  smoke  in  the 

222 


K£W8  FBOM  HOME.  228 

distance,  and  remarked  to  Jerves  "  There's 
the  mail  steamer  from  'Frisco,  I  reckon." 

"  Is  it  ?  Then  hold  on.  We  must  have 
our  letters  and  papers/'  and  Jerves  sent  his 
boy  in  haste  to  the  captain,  who  happened 
to  be  below,  and  who  was  much  surprised 
at  Jerves's  sudden  anxiety  for  news.  Be- 
fore that,  he  had  not  seemed  to  care  very 
much  for  letters,  and  as  for  newspapers,  he 
only  asked  some  one  to  read  the  head  lines, 
the  ship-news,  and  two  or  three  stock 
reports  to  him.  The  captain  thought  it 
rather  strange,  too,  that  he  should  ask 
Bows  or  some  stranger  to  read  his  letters 
to  him  instead  of  himself  or  one  of  the 
ladies.  He  had  begun  to  question  whether 
Jerves  had  noC  ilome  troublesome  secret 
that  he  did  not  wish  them  to  know  about. 
It  did  not  appear  to  be  anything  of  that 
kind,  either,  for  he  showed  nothing  like 
anxiety  about  them  either  before  they 
were  read  or  after.  When  he  had  in* 
quired    if    the    Galatea   had    arrived,  he 


224  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB. 

showed  very  little  interest  in  news  any- 
way. 

The  captain  was  in  hopes  the  steamer 
would  arrive  before  his  departure,  but,  as 
he  was  ready  to  sail  did  not  like  to  delay. 
Now  that  she  was  at  hand  he  was  willing 
enough  to  wait  a  little,  and,  when  in  an 
hour  or  two  the  steamer  had  passed  in,  he 
sent  Rollins  ashore  for  their  mail.  Rollins 
soon  returned  with  a  batch  of  letters  and 
papers.  "  One  for  you,  sir,"  to  the  captain^ 
"  two  for  Mr.  Jerves,  three  for  Mrs.  Bates, 
one  for  me,  one  for  Mr.  Bows,  and  two  for 
forward.  That's  all,  sir.  That  Galatea 
has  arrived  in  New  York,  sir.  Had  a 
long  passage." 

Now  Jerves  was  all  attention.  He  took 
his  letters,  but  showed  no  impatience  to 
have  them  read  to  him,  but  rather  listened 
to  what  Mrs.  Bates  might  say.  "Three 
letters  for  me?  Oh,  that's  delightful, 
unless  there's  bad  news.  Let  me  have 
them,  quick."     She  looked  at  the   hand- 


HOfiildaMMMHMI 


NEWS  FBOM  HOME.  226 

writing  of  the  addresses,  and  opened  the 
last  one  she  came  to  first.  She  had  not 
read  very  far  before  she  cried  out,  "Oh, 
Carrie,  Carrie,  see  what  some  one  has  done 
for  me ! "  and  she  handed  a  letter  to  her 
friend.  There  were  tears  in  her  voice,  but 
not  tears  of  sorrow,  and  Jerves  was  satis- 
fied. The  sight  of  her  face  when  she  read 
her  letters,  that  he  had  thought  so  much 
about  when  he  sent  his,  was  denied  him ; 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  bandage  cov- 
ered so  much  of  his  face  that  there  was  no 
danger  it  would  betray  him.  The  cap- 
tain's wife  read  the  letter,  and  then 
crossed  the  deck,  took  the  small  head  in 
her  arms,  pressed  it  to  her  heart,  and  the 
two  friends  had  a  good  cry  together.  Then 
they  read  the  rest. 

It  was  from  Jere  Haskins,  and  said  :  — 
"The  Trust  Company's  letter  that  I  en- 
close will  tell  you  of  the  good  fortune  that 
has  happened  to  little  Helen.  Of  course 
you  cannot  know  anything  about  it,  and 


226         CBUJ8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

there  seems  to  be  some  mystery  about 
it.  I  thought  you  would  want  me  to 
ascertam  who  gave  the  money  if  I  could, 
because  it  migh^  come  from  somebody 
you  would  not  want  to  take  it  from.  I 
went  to  the  Trust  Company,  and  they  said 
they  did  not  know  who  gave  it,  or  any- 
thing  about  it,  except  that  they  were  to 
pay  the  money.  I  asked  so  many  quei^ 
tions  that  they  finally  gave  me  the  name 
of  the  lawyer,  who,  they  said,  drew  the 
Hrust  deed/  He  would  not  tell  me 
much,  and  said  the  name  of  his  client  was 
a  professional  secret,  and  beyond  that  he 
had  nothing  more  to  do  with  the  matter. 
The  money  was  to  be  paid  to  me  while  I 
acted  as  Helen's  guardian,  and  if  she  mar- 
ried she  was  to  have  the  principal,  and  if 
she  died  it  was  to  go  to  her  mother.  If  I 
did  not  take  it  the  Trust  Company  would 
keep  it.  The  giver  himself  could  not 
get  it  back  again.  There  was  nothing 
for  me  to  do  but  to  use  it  as  directed.    I 


NEWS  FROM  HOME.  227 

need  have  no  scruples,  nor  need  her 
mother.  It  was  ^ clean'  money.  It  did 
not  come  from  any  of  those  who  led  poor 
Charlie  astray.  He  said  that  so  long  as 
Helen  was  with  me  I  should  receive  pay- 
ment for  taking  care  of  her,  and  I  told 
him  I  didn't  want  any  pay.  He  said  that 
was  none  of  his  business ;  I  could  do  as  I 
liked,  if  I  could  afford  it.  He  is  a  nice, 
tall,  thin-faced,  clean-shaved  old  gentleman, 
with  long  white  hands,  and  when  he  begins 
to  talk  he  puts  the  tips  of  his  fingers  to- 
gether in  a  curious  way.  When  I  had  got 
through  talking,  and  was  ready  to  go,  he 
began  asking  thb  questions.  He  made  me 
tell  nearly  everything  I  knew,  all  about 
Helen,  and  about  myself,  and  about  you. 
I  don't  know  how  he  did  it,  but  he  asked 
such  questions  I  couldn't  help  answering. 
He  asked  about  my  wife,  and  I  told  him 
about  her ;  and  he  made  me  tell  how  I  lost 
my  ship,  and  somehow  he  managed  to  get 
everything  out  of  me.     I  told  him  I  might 


i 

223  CBUISS  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

have  gone  second  mate  on  the  ship  you 
are  on,  —  Rollins  wanted  me  to,  —  and  he 
asked  if  there  were  any  other  passengers, 
and  I  said  none  that  I  knew  of.  He  said 
he  had  seen  an  acccont  of  the  Ajax  pick- 
ing up  a  wreck  with  yellow  fever  on  board, 
and  towing  her  to  Uermada.  He  said 
those  men  who  went  on  the  wreck  were 
brave  fellows.  Then  I  i.^ld  him  about 
Eollins,  and  he  made  me  give  him  his 
name,  and  wrote  it  down.  Then  we 
talked  about  everything,  and  I  had  to 
tell  him  how  we  ran  past  the  batteries  at 
Vicksl  urg  in  '63,  —  Rollins  and  me ;  and  he 
said  Rollins  ought  to  have  a  medal.  I 
told  him  how  your  two  brothers  died  at 
Fredericksburg,  and  he  said  his  only  son 
was  kilivid  at  Gettysburg.  He  was  very 
kind  and  good,  but  I  never  saw  such  a 
man  to  make  pv^ople  talk.  He  kept  me 
more  than  two  hours,  and  then  his  car- 
riage came  to  take  him  home,  and  he  made 
me  get  in  with  him.     He   pretended  he 


,,!»     .-•  ■^■-^-^ 


\ 


ne'ws  from  home.  229 

wanted  to  ge^.  some  things  to  send  to  a 
friend  in  the  country,  and  he  wished  ,^ 
would  help  him  «5elect  them,  and  he  drove 
to  a  great  store,  and  picked  out  a  lot  of 
useful  things,  and  I  helped  him  as  well  as 
I  could.  Then  he  shook  hands  with  me^ 
and  asked  if  he  might  come  and  see  us 
when  he  went  to  the  mountains  in  the 
summer.  So  I  came  home  again.  The 
next  day  the  stage  brought  a  great  parcel 
addressed  to  Margaret,  and  inside  wiWL  this 
note :  "  Please  accept  these  from  an  old 
man  whose  only  son  died  with  your 
brother  at  Grettysburg."_  Then  I  remem- 
bered the  name  of  poor  Frank's  captain, 
and  how  the  old  lawyer  looked  when  I 
told  him  that  Margaret's  brother  was 
killed  at   Gettysburg,   too.'*  i 

There  was  a  great  deal  more  in  the 
letter,  and  when  it  was  read,  Mrs.  Bates 
went  to  her  room.  An  hour  later  when 
she  returned  to  the  deck  there  were  no 
tears  in  eyes  or  voice,  though  she  stood  a 


230  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

long  time  leaning  against  the  after-mizzen 
mast,  looking  eastward.  &  #  v^ 

Bows  read  Jerves's  letters  ^'>  him. 
They  merely  said  his  instructions  had 
been  carried  out.  This,  with  Mrs.  Bates's 
cry  to  the  captain's  wife  was  enough  for 
his  reveries,  as  he  lay  back  idle  in  his 
chair.  He  did  not  even  care  to  smoke. 
By  and  by  Mrs.  Bates  came  to  him  and 
said,  "  Oh,  Mr.  Jerves,  you  ought  to  know 
what  a  great  thing  some  one  has  done  for 
me.  I  don't  know  who  it  is,  but  may  God 
bless  him  forever.  May  I  read  you  two 
letters?  I  cannot  keep  my  happiness  to 
myself."  ^^-^-^v^^^"^-^^  --'-^m  -m---^^, 
-^  Again  Jerves  was  almost  glad  of  the 
bandages  over  his  eyes,  and  he  had  to 
make  a  considerable  effort  to  keep  his 
voice  steady  enough  to  answer,  ^^  Certainly, 
I  shall  be  very  glad."      fi 

She  read  the  Trust  Company's  letter 
first.  It  was  nearly  a  copy  of  the  draft 
he  had  sent.     "  Only  think  of  it !     Fifty 


j&,_. 


/ 


NEWS  FROM  HOME.  231 

dollars  a  month  to  my  little  girl !  I  can't 
think  who  sends  it.  I  wonder  if  he  knows 
what  it  means.  Why,  it  means  food  and 
clothes  and  books  and  schools ;  if  she  has 
health,  it  means  everything  that  she  needs. 
And  to  me  it  means,  oh,  so  much!  I 
cannot  begin  to  tell  you  what  it  means. 
I  suppose  to  you,  who  are  rich,  it  seems 
little,  but  to  me  it  is  a  great  deal."  . 

"  Have  you  no  idea  from  whom  it 
comes  V[  he  ventured  at  length  to  ask. 

"  None,  and  since  Jere  says  I  may  take 
it  without  scruple,  and  it  is  what  he  calls 
*  clean '  money,  I,  am  not  sure  that  ^^ J 
ought  to  try  to  find  out.  What  do  you 
think?"       :vv  iwr 

"It  seems  to  me  you  should  not  try, 
since  the  eiver  wishes  to  remain  un- 
known."  ■     '   -  .    v.v-'^-;^^,^:^j|'' _,^,_ 

"  I  am  gla5  you  think  so.  I  suppose  it 
comes  from  s  )me  old  friend  of  my  father. 
I  don't  think  I  knowva^jg^ie  rich  enough 
to   do   such  a  thing,   but    somebody  has 


282  CRUI8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

done  it.     I  hope  it  is  right  for  me  to 
take  it."  "l;#^-^t^.  v  .>-^^^^^^ 

"  It  would  seem  useless  to  refuse  it, 
under  the  circumstances."   '  ""  ^ 

Then  she  read  Jere's  letter  to  him. 
^  "  Isn't  Jere  a  splendid  fellow  ?  See  how 
he  gives  the  credit  for  everything  to  some-' 
body  else,  when  everybody  knows  he  is  the 
bkavest  man  that  ever  lived,  and  the 
kindest  heart.  He  knew  I  would  not  want 
to  take  the  money  if  it  wasn't  *  clean.' 
And  how  quickly  the  old  lawyer  found 
liim  out.  I  am  too  happy  to-day.  I  hope 
it  is  not  wrong  to  be  so  happy.  And 
there's  Margaret,  too !  the  sweetest  wife 
ever  any  man  had.  Think  of  her  delight ! 
What  kind  people  there  are  in  the  world  ! 
I  wonder  if  that  man  will  ever  know  all 
the  happiness  he  has  caused.  But  he's 
sure  to  know  it  some  time.** 

**  If  he  knows,  he  will  be  W&  less  happy 
than  you,  I  am  sure.  I  am  glad  myself  to 
know  of  so  much  happiness.     I  congratu- 


NEWS  FROM  HOMS.  238 

late  you  with  all  my  heart,"  and  he  held 
out  his  hand  to  her.  It  was  steady  now, 
but  he  felt  that  hers  trembled.         ^f^. 

"  Thank  you.  Thank  you."  She  went 
away  to  tell  Rollins  about  it.  Rollins  was 
Jere's  friend,  and  had  seen  Helen.  It  was 
right  he  should  know  about  it.  Mr. 
Bollins  heard  the  Trust  Company's  letter, 
and  gave  a  long  whistle.  "  By  Jove,  that 
felloi^j  a  trump."  "  Have  you  any  idea 
who  it  could  be  ?  "  she  asked.  "  I  don't 
know  anything  about  it,"  he  replied, 
though  somehow  a  sudden  recollection  of 
the  evening  when  he  had  walked  and 
talked  with  Jerves  on  the  deck,  had 
flashed  over  him,  and  he  remembered  the 
letters  sent  by  the  Galatea.  "  I  don't 
know  anything  about  it,  but  I  am  mighty 
glad  of  it.     Please  excuse  me  a  minute." 

He  went  forward,  in  a  great  hurry,  to 
berate  the  carpenter  for  some  work  done 
awkwardly  two  days  before,  and  came 
back  shortly;  quite  composed.     ^'  Now,  let 


234  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  DATER. 

me  hear  Jere's  letter,"  and  she  read  it  to 
him.  "  Jere's  a  fine  fellow.  That  battery 
business  was  all  his,  though.  I  didn't 
have  much  to  do  with  it.  That  old  law- 
yer saw  through  him,  though,  didn't  he  ? 
And  wasn't  it  handsome  of  him  to  send 
the  thmgs  to  Jere's  wife?'* 
I  Rollins  went  to  his  duty,  and  the  Ajax 
moved  away  under  the  gentle  breeze. 
There  were  happy  hearts  on  board  that 
day,  but  whether  Mrs.  Bates  or  Jerves  was 
the  happier,  it  would  be  hard  to  tell. 
They  all  sat  on  deck  till  very  late  that 
night,  singing,  and  talking  of  home. 
Even  the  boys  were  not  put  to  bed  till 
Bobby  fell  asleep  in  his  mother's  lap,  and 
Harry  on  the  deck  at  Mrs.  Bates' js  feet. 


:■■■  ^^'V..:-  -::/.. 

.=u;j%  -  -  ,  ^_.  .•  T^  ^.  •  '-  -T  .       ■*.  ,      V'-,',  ; 


":^.-  ,.  -^ 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

v..,.>. ,,;•-_;.,...,     LIGHT.     -  ^.-^ 


The  next  oay  was  Sunday.  Jerves 
came  out  of  his  room  with  his  young 
valet,  and  inquired  anxiously  for  Mrs. 
Bluson.  She  had  not  yet  appeared,  at 
which  he  was  disappointed.  Mrs.  Bates 
was  on  deck,  and,  noticing  his  agitation, 
inquired,  "  What  is  it,  Mr.  Jerves  ?  Is 
there  anything  I  can  do  for  you  ?  **  ^^   ' 

"  Nothing,  thank  you,  only  —  may  I  sit 

She  rose,  and'gave  him  her  chair.  ^ 

"I  want  to  tell  you  something.    I  was 

going  to  tell  Mrs.  Bluson  first ;  but  I  must 

tell  somebody.     Last  night,  when  I  was 

lying  in  my  berth,  my  bandage   annoyed 

me,  and  I  took  it  off.    if  kept  my  eyes 

closed,  as   I  always  do,  and  fell   asleep. 

2^5 


236  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

I  don't  know  how  long  T  slept ;  but  when 
I  awoke  I  opened  my  eyes  unconsciously — 
and — and  —  I  could  see  a  little  !  And 
without  pain !  There  was  not  much  light ; 
but  I  could  distinguish  objects  in  the  room. 
When  the  light  grew  strong  enough  to 
hurt  me,  I  replaced  the  bandage.  Can  it" 
be  that  my  sight  is  coming  again  ? '' 

,  She  took  one  of  his  hands  between  both 
of  hers,  and  raised  it  high,  as  if  in  thanks^ 
giving.  ^^^  ^ 

,.v*^  Oh,  I  hope  so !  I  believe  so !  It  must 
be  so!  What  a  joy!  .What  a  joy! 
What  a  happy  ship  this  wiU  be  to-day ! 
Let  me  call  the  captain  and  Carrie." 
f  She  ran  to  the  companion-way,  and 
called,  "Robert,  Carrie,  Mr.  Jerves  wants 
you  both  up  here.     Come  right  away." 

The  tone  of  voice  did  not  alarm  them ; 
but  they  came  quickly.  Mio.  Bates,  how- 
ever, was  not  with  them.  She  had  slipped 
q\uetly  to  her  room,  feeling  a  tumult  of 
emotions  too  great  for  control.    She  was 


LIGHT.  287 

very  happy  yesterday;  but  the  happiness 
of  to-day  was  even  greater  —  and  that, 
she  knew,  ought  not  to  be.  She  tried, 
as  it  were  to  find  excuses  for  it.  Little 
Helen  was  far  away,  and  Jerves  was  here 
before  her.  She  was  too  young  to  realize 
her  good-fortune;  and  Jerves  had  known 
the  blessing  he  had  lost.  Lack  of  money 
was  nothing  to  the  loss  of  sight.  These 
were  poor  reasons,  after  alL  There  was 
another  greater  than  these,  and  she  felt 
herself  blushing  all  over,  as  at  length  she 
realized  it.  She  loved  that  man.  Again 
and  again  and  again  she  refused  to  admit 
it,  and  again  and  again  she  was  obliged 
to  confess  In  her  heart  that  it  was  true. 
There  was  pleasure  mingled  with  the  pain 
with  which  she  gave  up  the  attempt  to 
deny  it.  #  7\^r 

Then  came  over  fier  a  feeling  of  shame 
at  having  given  it  where  it  had  not  been 
asked.  He  had  never  given  sign  by  word 
or  look  that  he  preferred  her  to  any  other 


288  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

woman.  Indeed,  he  had  spoken  lightly  of* 
all  women,  and  said  he  wanted  nothing  to 
do  with  any.  He  had  always  been  kind 
and  polite  to  her,  very  kind  and  very 
thoughtful.  That  was  his  nature.  He 
would  not  be  unkind  to  any  one.  She 
could  not  say  that  he  had  ever  been  any- 
thing more  than  kind  and  polite;  but 
there  was,  she  thought,  more  than  ordi- 
nary  gentleness  about  his  kindness,  and 
thoughtfulness  about  his  poUteness.  Still, 
she  knew  her  love  was  not  returned,  and 
that  she  must  hide  and  stifle  it.  A  few 
days  more,  and  their  voyage  would  be 
over.  They  would  go  their  separate  ways ; 
prohat)ly  would  never  meet  again.  When 
the  bell  rang  for  service,  she  bathed  her 
face,  and  dried  her  eyes;  and  looked  over 
her  prayer-book  for  a  "  Thanksgiving  for 
Unexpected  Mercies,"  and,  finding  none, 
extemporized  one  for  herself,  and  came  out 
as  calm  as  usual. 

Jerves  had  told  the  captain  and  his  wife, 


LIGHT.  239 

and  there  had  been  great  rejoicing.  The 
captain  slapped  him  on  the  back,  and  gave 
three  cheers,  to  Bows's  great  astonishment; 
and  his  wife  had  taken  both  Jerves's  hands, 
and  shaken  them  well,  and  adjusted  his 
bandages  with  even  greater  nicety  than 
usual;  and  told  him  over  and  over  again 
how  careful  he  must  be.  To-morrow  she 
would  have  goggles  made  of  wire,  and 
would  cover  them  with  black  muslin,  and 
he  should  have  a  black  shade,  and  a  green 
one  to  wear  as  his  eyes  became  stronger. 
Altogether  the  little  woman  was  in  a  state 
of  great  excitement;  while  her  husband 
walked  back  and  forth,  stopping  at  every 
turn  to  put  his  hands  on  their  shoulders, 
and  say  he  hadn  t  heard  any  such  good 
news  in  a  year. 

Jerves  missed  Mrs.  Bates's  voice  and 
presence ;  but  remembered  clearly  how  she 
had  taken  his  hand  in  hers,  and  thought 
he  could  imagine  how  she  looked  when  she 
did  it.    When  the  others  went  away,  he 


240  CBUI8E  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB. 

missed  her  the  more.  She  had  got  into 
the  habit  of  sitting  somewhere  near  him, 
when  she  was  reading  or  sewing,  ajid^ 
though  neither  might  speak,  he  liked  to 
hear  the  rustle  of  her  dress  occasionally. 

He  thought  now  of  Dulcifer,  and  wonr 
dered  what  kind  of  a  life  she  would  have 
led  if  she  had  married  him.  And  then  he 
thought,  as  he  had  so  often  before,  how 
different  life  would  have  been  for  him  if  he 
had  met  her,  or  one  like  her,  ten,  or  even 
five  years  ago.  He  went  ov3r  the  same 
ground  as  before,  and  came  to  the  same 
conclusion.  It  was  too  late.  Besides,  he 
doubted  whether  he  could  make  her  hap- 
pier than  she  was  now. 

He  might  regain  his  sight,  but  not  hia 
lost  years.  He  would  never  marry.  He 
had  said  it  was  only  necessary  to  Iceep 
away  from  women  to  avoid  marrying 
them,  and  it  seemed  the  easiest  thing  in 
the  world  to  do.  It  was  not  easy  on  ship- 
board to  keep  away  frcmi  her;    but  he 


r' 


LIGHT.  241 

would  do  it.  He  did  not  think  he  had 
ever  been  more  than  rx^lite  to  her,  and  he 
would  try  to  be  less  than  polite  hereafter. 
It  would  be  only  a  few  days  more,  anyway. 
From  Hong  Kong  she  would  go  east,  and, 
if  his  eyes  improved,  he  would  go  westward 
round  the  world.  He  did  try,  and  par- 
tially succeeded,  though  it  was  harder 
than  he  thought.  It  was  hard  to  forbeai 
politeness,  almost  to  rudeness,  when  every 
impulse  of  his  heart  was  towards  regard 
and  tenderness. 

She  aided  him  somewhat,  for  her  reserve 
equalled  his.  She  no  longer  gave  him  her 
arm  for  a  walk  on  the  deck,  or  her  hand  to 
lead  him  down  the  companion-way.  She 
read  no  more  books  to  him,  and,  though 
she  made  many  sketches,  her  entries  in  the 
journal  were  short.  This  constraint  in 
their  relations,  formerly  so  free,  open,  and 
unembarrassed,  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  captain,  and  mystified  him  exceedingly; 
and  he  found  no  answer  to  the  question  he 


242 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 


80  often  asked  himself,  as  he  walked  the 
deck,  "  What  the  deuce  is  the  row  ?  " 

His  good  wife  was  mystified,  and  cha- 
grined besides.  Here  were  these  two,  who, 
she  had  vainly  hoped,  might  somehow 
be  brought  together,  going  daily  farther 
and  farther  apart.  She  really  felt  sorry 
for  both  —  and  angry  with  both  as  well. 


jv?.  •■  -•.    ,''-iT 


^;i.:n. 


.>-««-* 


)i  - 


:'ii!  ' 


'         ■  ^.    ,''-',^j2-c.  ~JP- 


■  v*,v;t*i  ; 


CHAPTER  XVn. 


A   PROPOSAL. 


The  good  ship  kept  on.  Winds  were 
light,  but  fair.  They  met  no  severe 
storms,  and  saw  no  more  wrecks.  Days 
passed  without  events  of  interest.  Jerves's 
eyes  continued  to  grow  stronger,  and  the 
goggles  and  shades  took  the  place  of  ban- 
dages. He  had  already  decided  on  keeping 
on  westward,  and  looked  over  the  maps 
with  the  captain.  He  would  spend  so 
ihuch  time  in  China,  so  much  in  India,  so 
much  in  Japan.  Then  he  would  visit  Per- 
sia, Afghanistan,  Russia.  He  would  take 
three  years  for  it.  Where  would  they  jlU 
be  in  three  years?         -    - .  ^^^ 

He  talked  more  than  usual  of  his  plans 

one  evening  when  they  were  all  seated  on 

the  deck. 

243 


244  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATEB. 

The  captain  brouglit  it  about  by  refer- 
ring some  way  to  their  first  conversation 
about  women  and  matrimony,  and  speculat- 
ing on  what  kind  of  a  wife  the  authorities  of 
"Jerves's  friend's"  proposed  establishment 
would  select  for  Mr.  Colorado.  The  captain 
and  his  wife  constituted  themselves  an  imag- 
inary committee  to  choose  one  for  him;  and 
the  one  thev  chose  was  not  much  like  Mrs* 
Bates.  Then  they  amused  themselves  by 
selecting  one  for  Mr.  Jerves,  for  they  in- 
^sted  that  if  the  women  must  be  married, 
whether  t>>ey  liked  it  or  no,  so  must  the 
me^"  The  combination  of  qu.ilities  they 
gav  this  imaginary  bride  was  in  the  end 
such  an  impossible  one  that  Jerves  accused 
them  of  arguing  against  their  own  prem- 
ises,  since,  if  an  impossible  wife  was  th§ 
only  suitable  one  for  a  man,  it  was  clear 
he  would  not  be  obliged  to  have  any.  But 
Mrs.  Bates  reminded  them  that  the  ques- 
tions of  temper  and  disposition  were  the 
only  ones  the  authorities  Had  fo  consider : 


-Ik    '    -r 


:-.\-- 


A  FB0P08AL.  ^  245 

-   ■■-■  -  *     "  -'         '"  ""■  """    -'■«'■'  '"  '■  "      - 

and  that  they  might  think  best  lo  give  a 
mild  and  peaceable  husband  some  furious 
vixen  of  a  termagant  for  a  wife.  So  the 
captain  allotted  Jerves  one  of  that  kind, 
just  to  see  how  he  would  like  it,  and  they 
tried  to  picture  the  scenes  that  would  take 
place  when  he  should  attempt  to  adminis- 
ter necessary  personal  chastisement.  Jer- 
Tpn  thought  he  would  get  round  that 
fticely,  for,  as  he  designed  to  spend  three 
years  in  travel,  all  he  would  need  do  was 
to  lock  her  up  till  he  came  back,  which 
would  be  the  most  convenient  arrangement 
in  the  world.  This  brought  them  round  to 
talk  of  his  plans  and  routes.  ^..:s::..^,,l' 

Altogether,  the  discussion  was  lively  and 
entertaining.  Mrs.  Bates  was  especially 
brilliant,  and  rather  sarcastic,  and  spared 
Jerves  not  at  all.  The  captain,  however, 
went  back  to  Mr.  Colorado,  and  Jerves 
learned  all  he  cared  to  know  about  that 
gentleman's  proposal,  and  how  it  was  re- 
ceived.    There  was  no  stopping  the  cap- 


246  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

tain  when  he  got  started  on  that  subject, 
though   Mrs.  Bates  did   her  best  to  shut 

nun  up.  \  '■''\'''V/^r-'^^^-''^:^^^^^^^ 

"I  wonder  where  we  shall  all  be  in  a 
year  from  to-night,"  said  Mrs.  Bluson, 
after  an  unusual  period  of  silence. 
:  "  It  would  be  hard  telling,"  replied  her 
husband.  "I  may  be  in  the  president's 
chair  of  the  Lookout  Insurance  Company. 
I  have  more  than  half  promised  to  take  it 
when  I  get  back.  I  don't  suppose  I  shall 
go  to  sea  any  more,  unless  I  get  very 
homesick."  ;      ^  * 

"I  shall  be  teaching  geography  and 
spelling  again,  I  hope.  I  think  I  may 
get  my  old  place  again.  I  am  well  enough 
to  fill  it  now,  and  feel  as  if  I  should  never 
be  ill  again."    j;  \. 

"A  good  vacation  you  will  have  had, 
dear:  And  I  am  sure  %  wUl  do  you  a 
great  deal  of  good." 

"Indeed  it  will.  I  never  dreamed  of 
having  such  a  holiday  as  this.     It  has  re- 


A  PROPOSAL.  247 

newed  my  life.  But  you  deceived  me  a 
little,  Carrie.  You  said  I  could  be  useful 
to  you,  and  here  I  have  done  nothing  but 

enjoy  myself."  ..a'^'z-v"'-^'  '''''''(^:}^:l''^.i... 

"If  you  call  cramming  Harry  full  of 
muttiplication-table,  and  worrying  Bob 
with  a-b  abs,  enjoying  yourself,  you  must 
have  had  a  first-rate  time.  I  shouldn't 
enjoy  myself  at  it,"  said  the  captain. 

"  Two  hours  a  day  five  days  in  the 
week,  from  which  the  father  generally 
excused  them  three,  and  their  mother  two. 
I  haven't  found  the  teaching  hard." 

"The  boys  have  learned  all  the  same.  I 
don't  know  how  you  managed  it.",    ^  '     ^ 

"You  have  made  them  behave  them- 
selves properly,  and  kept  them  from  teas- 
ing the  life  out  of  me,  anyway,"  said  Mrs. 
Bluson.     "  I  think  that  is  enough.." 

"You  see,  Helen,  you  have  been  alto- 
gether mistaken.  You  thought  you  were 
enjoying  yourself,  when  you  were  only 
making  other  people  happy." 


248  CRUISE  OF  A   WO^rAN  HATER. 

"I  am  glad  if  I  aave  done  anything 
that  way.  It  seems  to  me  it  cannot  have 
been  much."  >    -*    #*  ^ 

"I  think  you  tave  no  occasion  to  re- 
proach yourself  on  that  score,  Mrs.  Bates/' 
said  Jerves.  .; 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Jerves.  You  have  all 
been  very  kind  to  me."  v  I   Ife    ^ 

That  was  a  good  deal  for  Jerves  to  say. 
Considering  the  feelings  she  knew  he  had 
when  she  came  on  boar3,  it  was  a  very 
great  deal,  and  she  did  thank  him  in  her 
heart.  -  "  ''''"^" "  ■  "r:.'::!?/^^^^-  ^r!;,^''-f  m:^^  V::)::^v 
5  "And  when  you  get  back,  where  will 
you  spend  the  summer,  captain?"  asked 
Jerves.  -i':-'-^'-''  ■  .-"P' _^^'--{-'x:''~'^^^^^ 

"I  don't  know.  We'll  find  a  place 
somewhere  for  a  few  weeks.  I  shall  have 
to  be  in  New  York  in  October  if  I  go  into 
the  Lookout." 

"  Why  won't  you  all  go  down  to  my 
place  at  Redbank.  There's  a  big  house 
all  ready  for  you,  and  quite  at  your  ser- 


\ 


A  PROPOSAL.  ^        249 

Vice.  There's  a  farm,  and  a  garden,  and 
no  end  of  fruits  and  vegetables;  and  no 
one  to  eat  them.     You  are  quite  welcome." 

"  There's  an  oflEer  for  you,  Carrie.  What 
do  you  say  to  it  ? "     ^  /  ^      i 

"  Oh,  I'll  go  fast  enough,  if  Helen  will 
come  and  keep  house  for  me." 

"  What  do  you  say, -Helen  ?  "   -  fc 

"  Oh,  I  must  go  to  work.  I  mustn't  play 
any  more.  I  must  see  about  getting  a 
school.  You  all  know  I  have  my  living 
to  earn  when  I  get  back." 

"  What  will  you  do  if  you  can't  get  your 
school  again  ? "       -     ■  ^  -.      ^^ ;  - 

"  Then  m  try  music  lessons."        -     ^ii 

"Never  you  mind  the  school.  You  go 
down  there  and  help  Carrie  keep  house. 
Harry  and  Bob  will  be  school  enough  for 
you.  e^-    '•:■"■•-  -^' -'   •---    "^v-''-.^ :_ 

"I  won't  have  Helen  helping  me  keep 
house.  I'll  help  her  if  she  likes.  My 
housekeeping  isn't  up  to  her  standard,  by 

a  long  way." 

/ 


250  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

^*If  Mrs.  Bates  wants  a  housekeeper's 
position,  I  know  of  one  for  her,  and  rather 
a  good  one/'  said  Jerves.  nrc^i*^  , 

"You?''     ^  ^       -  ^. 

"  Yes.  I'll  give  a  good  housekeeper  five 
hundred  dollars  a  year  to  keep  Redbank 
open  till  I  come  back.  She  can  have  all 
that  she  wants  from  the  farm  and  garden, 
and  as  many  servants  as  she  needs." 
I  *^  Keep  Redbank  open  all  the  year  round, 

Jerves?",.    r--:-^y:--;-  ■.■^^■.r..-\  ^■t^:v^**''-#W 

"Yes.  Just  as  it  was  in  my  good  old 
father''^'  time."  -  ^  i-- 

"But,  Mr.  Jerves,  you  cannot  want  to 
pay  all  the  expenses  of  a  house  that  you 
never  visit."     -^  ■-:  4  iwr^-^^--  -m.^:.--: 

"Indeed  I  do.  It  went  to  my  li^art  to 
close  it  up;  but  I  could  not  stay  there 
quite  alone  all  winter;  and  I  had  one 
housekeeper  who  lived  in  one  room,  kept 
no  servants,  and,  if  I  sent  any  of  my 
friends  there,  let  them  go  away  hungry. 
Then  I  had  another  who  kept  four  ser- 


A  PROPOSAL,  251 

vantSj  and  open  house  for  all  her  family 
and  acquaintance  all  the  time.  In  my 
dear  father's  time  we  always  had  a  plate 
and  a  bed  for  any  friend  who  might  come, 
and  I  wish  it  could  be  so  again.  I  will 
gladly  give  a  housekeeper  five  hundred  dol- 
lars a  year."  ;,;  :  /;..;  ^   * 

"There's  an  offer  for  you,  and  a  good 
one  this  time,  Helen.  It  is  not  as  large  as 
Colorado's ;  but,  except  the  horses,  and  the 
diamonds,  and  being  a  governor's  wife,  and 
cutting  a  swell  at  Washington,  I  don't 
know  but  it  is  just,  as  good." 

"  A  great  deal  better,  for  you  don't  have 
to  take  Mr.  Colorado  with  it,"  said  Mrs. 
Bluson,  whose  dislike  to  that  gentleman 
was  as  great  as  ever.         :fi  : 

None  of  them  had  any  idea  she  would 
accept  the  proposition,  but,  as  she  did  not 
reject  it  at  once,  Jerves  began  to  hope  she 
might  accept.  He  was  pleased  to  think  of 
Mrs.  Bates  in  his  father's  old  mansion.  His 
father  would  have  liked  such  a  woman  as 


252  CRUT8E  OF  A  WOMAN  HATER, 

she  to  be  in  it.  As  for  her,  she  could  not 
help  seeing  that  here  was  a  home  and  an 
assured  support  for  three  years;  and, 
though  she  would  have  preferred  teaching, 
she  knew  that  her  chance  of  getting  a 
teacher  s  position  was  rather  precarious, 
and  that  of  getting  a  living  by  music- 
teaching  still  more  so.  She  thought  it  all 
over  while  Jarves  was  speaking,  debating 
whether  there  could  be  anything  menial 
about  such  a  situation,  and  deciding,  as 
well  she  might,  that,  if  there  were,  Jer- 
ves  would  not  have  offered  it  to  her.  She 
kne"lr  the  man  "v^ell  enouglTto  Be  certain  of 
that.   :-  \    /■-iO::-x  .:'^^-'::-Mm^^^^^^^^^ 

After  a  little  silence,  she  whispered  to 
her  friend,  "  Do  you  suppose  I  could  have 
my  baby  with  me  ?  "  ^  .i4ig 

The  whisper  was  not  so  low  but  Jerves 
caught  it,  and  answered,  "Most  assur- 
edly." 

That  was  the  first  intimation  she  gave 
that  she  was  considering   the  proposition 


A  PROPOSAL.  '   268 

seriously,  and  it  pleased  him.    He  contin- 
ued:— 

^*  I  don't  think  the  position  would  be  in 
the  least  difficult  or  disagreeable.  The 
housekeeper's  principal  duty  would  be  to 
direct  the  indoor  servants.  The  farmer 
would  supply  the  vegetabteSj  and  the  gar- 
dener the  fruits,  and  the  tradesmen  the 
other  requisites ;  and  my  agent  pays  all 
the  bills."  -.^^^^.^^^ 

*^  It  is  not  a  bad  offer,  Helen.  Perhaps 
you  had  better  think  it  over.  It  can  t  be 
harder  than  school-teaching." 

"  Mr.  Jerves's  offer  is  too  liberal.  I 
don't  thinll  I  should  be  worth  it.  I  could 
not  get  much  more  than  that  by  teaching, 
and  should  have  to  pay  all  my  expenses. 
It  is  too  much.  ^ 

"  Now,  just  listen  to  that,  will  you,  Jer- 
ves?  What  queer  creatures  women  are! 
Colorado  offered  a  hundred  times  as  much, 
and  she  didn't  fhink  it  was  enough. 
There's  no  consistency  about  them." 


254  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

"  Colorado,  again  ! "  ejaculated  his  wife. 
-  '^  Captain,  please  not  mention  Mr.  Dul- 
cifer  any  more.  That  little  episode  is 
over.  It  does  not  interest  Mr.  Jerves,  and 
I  am  not  proud  of  it  myself." 

In  this  she  was  mistaken,  for  Jerves  did 
feel  an  interest  in  it. 

"  Well,  I  won't  —  perhaps.  But  you 
and  Carrie  had  better  go  to  bed,  while  Jer- 
ves and  I  have  a  smoke.  Now,  don't  sit 
up  all  night  talking  it  over.  You'll  have 
plenty  of  time.  We  are  not  at  Hong  Kong 
yet."  .  ;     -. 

They  were  still  talking  it  over  when  the 
pipes  »vere  smoked,  and  the  men  went  be- 
low. They  talked  it  over  again  the  next 
day,  and  the  next,  and  the  next  after  that ; 
and,  after  all  their  consideration,  they  con- 
cluded that  they  should  all  spend  what 
might  remain  of  the  summer,  after  their 
return,  at  Redbank ;  and  that  Mrs.  Bates 
should  continue  there  as  housekeeper  dur- 
ing Jerves's  absence.    Jerves  was  pleased. 


♦  'S.  1  ; 


*■  .-- 


'  CHAPTER  XVm. 

FAREWELL   TO   THE   AJAX.   -^-^y^^'^^i^T 

Hong  Kong  was  reached  a  few  days 
later.  The  crowds  and  the  strange  people 
and  customs  interested  them,  but  it  was 
not  part  of  the  captain's  plan  to  remain 
there.  Two  weeks  sufficed  to  discharge 
the  cargo,  and  transfer  the  Ajax  to  her 
new  owners.  Our  friends  bade  her  fare- 
well with  regret.  For  four  months  she 
had  made  them  a  pleasant  home. 

But  the  steamer  for  San  Francisco  was 

ready.     Good-byes  must  be  said,  the  family 

broken  up,   the   friends    separated.      The 

parting  could  not  be  otherwise   than   sad, 

but  it  came,  and  was  over.     The  captain 

and  his  party  steamed  away  to  the  east, 

while  Rollins  and  Jerves  waved  farewells 

from  the  dock. 

Jerves  went  to  his  room,  and  there  full;; 

255 


256  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATEB. 

realized  his  loneliness.  He  was  really  a 
lonely  ma  i.  A  home  indeed  he  had,  and  a 
comfortable  one,  but  He  was  more  lonely  in 
it  than  under  the  hospitable  roof  of  his 
bankers  in  Hong  Kong.  He  had  no  near 
relatives,  and  the  distant  ones,  whose  only 
interest  in  him  was  the  hope  that  they 
might  some  day  inherit  his  property,  he 
scarcely  knew.  There  was  no  one  to  care 
where  he  went,  or  what  he  did.  There 
was  no  reason  why  he  should  be  in 
China  —  or  in  any  other  place,  except  that 
no  one  cared  for  him  anywhere.  He  had 
only  a  mild  curiosity  to  see  unknown  coun- 
tries, and,  since  his  friends  of  the  Ajax 
were  gone,  even  sight-seeing  was  dulL  K:^ 
had  laid  out  a  three  years'  p'';  n  of  t  -^  ' 
but  somehow  felt  no  ambition  to  com- 
mence it.  For  a  moment  he  wished  that 
he  also  was  on  board  the  Oceanic,  eastward 

He  was  glad  he  had  provided  a  home 
and  an  income  for  Mrs.  Bates,  during  his 


•TV  4^' 


FABEWELL  TO  THE  AJAX%  257 

absence.  She  would  be  comfortably  sit- 
uated for  three  years  at  least,  and  after 
that  he  would  find  some  other  way  to  pro- 
vide for  her.  He  wondered  whether  she 
would  have  married  him,  if  he  had  asked 
her,  and  whether  he  could  have  made  her 
happier  than  she  would  be  otherwise.  He 
went  out  and  hunted  up  Rollins,  who  was 
looking  for  another  ship,  and,  like  himself, 
was  just  then  rather  londy.  Captain  Blu- 
son  had  already  found  oerth  for  Bows  as 
second  mate  on  an  American  ship,  bound 
for  Java  to  load  sugar  for  home.  Her 
master  was  as  temperate  in  his  use  of 
alcoholic  drinks,  as  he  was  intemperate  in 
his  language  concerning  them,  and  Bows 
went  out  of  port  again  sober.  There  did 
appear  a  prospect  of  "  making  something 
out  of  Bows,"  for  to  be  second  mate  on 
two  voyages,  and  to  go  out  of  his  harbor 
sober  three  times  in  succession,  gave  him 
an  idea  of  new  possibilities.  ^ 

Jerves's  fit  of  blues  passed  off,  under  the 


<#-■ 


258  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

influences  of  Rollins's  talk,  and  before 
their  interview  was  over,  he  greatly  aston- 
ished that  gentleman,  by  asking  him  to 
join  him  in  his  three  years'  tour.  He 
would  continue  his  mate's  wages,  and  pay 
all  expenses  of  both.  i?    ^^, 

■  Rollins  gave  another  of  his  whistles,  but 
this  time  longer  than  usual.  '-^is 

"  See  here,  do  you  know  what  that  sort 
of  a  trip  would  cost  you  ?  "  ;  -^  W^ 

"leant  saj  I  do."  r)  S 

"  Why,  it  would  cost  you  twenty  thou- 
aand  dolte  a  year."  « 

"I  suppose  so."  I  '      -    - 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  want  to  put 
out  twenty  thousand  dollars  a  year  on  that 
little  lark?"  .        >  - 

*^^  "  I  didn't  imagine  it  would  cost  less 
than  that."  *  -  h^c 

"  Well,  if  you  are  made  up  of  shiners  to 
tKat  extent,  and  want  my  company,  I  don't 
mind.  Only  I  want  the  pay  to  go  to  that 
good  mother  of    mine.      I  expect    she'd 


FAREWELL  TO  TUE  AJAX.  259 

rather  I'd  come  home  once  in  a  while,  but 
then  she  would  quite  as  lief  I  should  be  on 
land,  as  at  sea,  and  perhaps  I  shouldn't  be 
away  any  longer  either."      •    r^^^^    n   ' 

Jerves  readily  promised  to  arrange  it, 
and  they  closed  the  bargain  on  the  spot, 
though  why  a  man  with  twenty  thousand 
dollars  a  year,  should  want  to  sjend  it  on 
shore,  instead  of  keeping  a  yacht,  was 
more  than  Rollins  could  understand. 

Jerves' s  grandfather  had,  many  years 
before,  owned  a  farm,  on  what  had  since 
become  the  site  of  a  great  manufacturing 
city.  He  sold  out  part  of  the  water-power 
which  was  on  it,  and  bought  more  land, 
and  sold  some  of  that  again,  little  by 
little,  as  it  increased  in  value.  His  only 
son,  Jerves' s  father,  had  done  much  the 
same  thing,  and  had  built  stores  and 
houses,  until  now  tlie  once  barren  and 
rocky  farm  was  covered  with  buildings  and 
busy  streets.  So  his  wealth  grew,  almost 
without  any  exertion  of  hi^  own,  and  two 


260  CRUISE  OF  A   W0MA2{  HATER. 

or  three  unusually  shrewd,  or,  as  his  neigh- 
bors said,  lucky,  investments,  had  so  added 
to  it,  that,  when  his  father  died,  Bernard 
Jerves  found  himself  in  possession  of  an 
income  far  beyond  his  wants.  Inherited 
habits  restrained  him  from  wasteful  ex- 
travagance, and,  until  now,  he  had  never 
fully  use^J  his  income.  The  amounts, 
therefore,  that  Mrs.  Bates  and  Rollins  con- 
sidered so  large,  were  not  greater  than 
lie  could  freely  afford  to  expend.     eSS 

Redbank  had  been  built  by  the  father 
during  his  early  married  life,  but  his  wif^ 
had  not  lived  long  to  enjoy  it,  and  of  their 
tiiree  children  two  had  died  in  infancy. 
Bernard  Jerves  himself  had  no  recollection 
jf  his  mother.  He  had  lived,  except  when 
at  school  and  college,  generally  alone  with 
Bis  father,  and  had  little  knowledge  of 
women  in  the  relations  of  home  and 
family.  Later,  his  two  disappointments 
and  his  sicknesses  had  sobered  and  sou^'ed 
him.     He  was  well  bred,  and  well  educated 


-;,** 


FAREWELL  TO  THE  A  J  AX.  J61 


enough  to  shine  in  society  if  he  would  take 
the  trouble ;  but  society  had  no  charm  for 
him,  and  with  his  ideas  about  women  was 
even  distasteful.  His  life  on  the  Ajax 
had  proved  the  pleasantest  he  had  known 
for  several  years.  It  was  not  strange  that 
he  should  seek  in  the  active  habits,  ex- 
uberant spirits,  and  lively  conversation  of 
Rollins  an  antidote  for  the  depression  he 
found  coming  over  him,  or  that  he  should 
wish  for  companionship  in  his  travels. 
Rollins  was  a  sailor,  but  an  educated, 
though  self-educated,  sailor,  and  he  brought 
from  the  sea  only  enough  of  its  salt  to 
give  freshness  and  vigor  to  the  air.  He 
bade  fair  to  be  an  excellent  companion  for 
the  quiet,  steady-going  Jerves. 

Captain  Bluson  and  his  family  had  a 
prosperous  voyage  to  San  Francisco.  If 
they  found  the  noise  and  jar  and  smell 
of  the  machinery  less  pleasant  than  the 
easy  roll  of  the  Ajcix,  they  had  the  satis- 
faction of  making  rapid  progress,  and,  once 


262 


CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 


started,  they  were  impatient  to  arrive.  A 
few  days*  rest  in  California,  and  then  they 
were  away  to  the  East,  until  they  found 
themselves  once  again  '  i  the  noisy  city 
they  had  left  six  months  before. 


J  ^ 
t 


r 


I 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


REDBANK. 


■.;W»a.-- 


One  bright,  hot  forenoon,  Mrs.  Bates, 
with  little  Helen  and  the  two  servants 
she  had  engaged,  drove  up  the  long  hill 
that  led  to  the  mansion  of  Redbank.  The 
first  sight  struck  her  with  dismay,  the 
house  was  so  large,  and  with  its  closed 
doors  and  windows  looked  so  gloomy. 
The  farmer's  busy,  bustling,  garrulous 
wife,  seeing  the  expected  arrivals,  hurried 
from  her  house  near  by  with  the  keys, 
followed  by  three  barefooted  little  girls 
in  sunbonnets.  Doors  and  windows  were 
soon  thrown  open,  the  sunlight  let  in,  and 
in  ten  minutes  little  Helen  and  the  bare- 
foot girls  were  racing  up  and  down  the 
stairways,  opening  and  peering  into  every 
closet  and  corner.      Mrs.   Bates   followed 

26a 


264  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

more  slowly.  The  great  parlors,  with 
their  linen-covered  furniture,  their  pict- 
ures and  statues,  the  library,  dining- 
room,  billiard-room,  and  the  numerous 
sleeping-rooms  oppressed  her,  and  made 
her  feel,  as  she  sank  exhausted  into  a 
chair,  just  as  the  farmer's  wife  said  she 
looked,  "  as  though  she  wished  she  hadn't 
a-come."  The  farmer's  wife,  however, 
gave  her  very  little  time  for  indulging 
her  feelings,  but  chattered  on:  ^' There 
ain't  nothin'  to  eat  in  the  house,  of  course, 
but  there's  a  lot  o'  groceries  and  things  out 
there,  and  the  man  he's  a-comin'  to  see 
n  you  want  any  more.  I  didnt  cook 
nothin'  for  yer,  'cause  I  didn't  know  jest 
when  yer  was  a-comin',  but  I  can  let  yer 
have  a  couple  o'  loaves  o'  bread  jest  to 
start  on,  and  I've  got  some  nice  mornin's 
•milk,  an'  some  cream,  an'  a  pat  o'  butter 
—  we  sold  most  all  our  butter  yesterday, 
but  I'll  churn  again  to-morrow  —  an'  some 
eggs,  an'  John  he'l^  be  in  from  the  hay- 


BEDBANK.  265 

field  pretty  soon,  an'  he'll  bring  yer  some 
potatoes,  an'  some  peas,  an',  maybe,  some 
'sparrer-grass,  or  sunthing,  an'  I  know 
he's  got  a  nice  quarter  o'  lamb  for  yer. 
There's  a  pan  full  o'  doughnuts  in  my 
pantry,  and  maybe  your  little  one  would 
like  to  run  over  with  my  girls,  an'  get 
some  —  they're  right  there  on  the  shelf, 
they  can  help  themselves  —  an'  I'll  bring 
you  over  some  o'  my  pies  when  I  get  'em 
baked.  We'll  get  yer  all  fixed  out  in  a 
day  or  two.  Perhaps  you'd  like  to  see 
the  kitchen ;  most  women  thinks  a  good 
deal  o'  their  kitchen,  an'  this  is  a  pretty 
good  kitchen,  this  one  is,  and  plenty  of 
things  to  do  with/*    '^^^■■^■—\.:--^^--^}—r:::--^.u' 

Mrs.  Bates's  brain  whirled,  but  she  fol- 
lowed to  the  kitchen.  The  cook  had  been 
before  her,  and,  true  to  her  instincts,  had 
laid  off  her  bonnet,  pinned  up  her  skirts, 
lighted  a  fire,  and  started  a  lively  alterca- 
tion with  her  associate,  the  housemaid,  as 
to  which  evenings  they  should  have   out, 


266  CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 

in  the  most  natural  manner  possible.  The 
farmer's  wife  bethought  her  of  her  baking. 
"  Goodness  me,  my  pies  won't  never  get 
baked  this  way,  an  them  men'll  be  comin' 
in  hungrier  'n  dogs.  Seems  as  though 
they  couldn't  never  get  enough  to  eat. 
Mr.  Jerves  wrote  how  you  was  to  have 
the  blue  room  and  the  two  bedrooms  off 
*n  it,  and  I  meant  to  have  tidied  'em  up  a 
little,  but,  law  me !  I  ain't  had  no  chance. 
These  hay  in'  times,  seems  's  though  I  didn't 
do  nothin'  but  cook.  I'll  send  John  right 
over  soon  's  he  comes  in."  Soon  after, 
"  John "  came  over,  in  his  shirt-sleeves, 
with  a  basket  in  his  hand,  and  a  bag 
over  his  shoulder,  followed  by  one  bare- 
foot girl  with  a  pail,  and  another  with 
a  pitcher,  and  the  third  with  little  Helen, 
still  nibbling  doughnuts. 

"  IIow  d'ye  do,  ma'am  ?  Glad  to  see  ye. 
Been  a-lookin'  for  ye;  but  didn't  -know 
when  ye'd  come.  I've  brought  ye  some 
vegetables  and  things,  an*   I'll  get   some 


BEDBANK.  267 

more  for  ye.  Putty  busy  ye  see  we  are 
these    good    hayin'    days.      Come    along, 

gals." 

He  deposited  his  load  on  the  floor  and 

departed,  but  was  hardly  out  of  the  door 
before  another  man  appeared,  who  pre- 
sented his  compliments  in  broad  Scotch, 
and  said  he  was  the  gardener,  and  had 
brought  "  a  bit  strawberries  "  and  a  "  wee 
han'fu  o'  flowers,"  and  was  glad  to  see 
somebody  in  the  house,  for  it  was  "nae 
eencooragen '*  to  try  to  keep  things  tidy, 
when  there  was  "  naebody  aboot  to  obseerve 
'em  at  a',  but  the  village  folk  an'  them." 

She  got  rid  of  the  Scotchman  at  lastf 
and  began  unpacking,  while  the  three  little 
girls,  who  were  back  again  by  this  time,  sat 
on  a  broad  sofa,  with  their  six  brown  legs 
sticking  straight  out  before  them,  watching 
her.  The  farmer  came  back  to  say  that  the 
man  with  the  horses  was  come,  and  would 
she  have  him  sleep  in  the  stable  or  in  the 
house  ?    He  thought  he  had  better  sleep  in 


268  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

the  house,   "seein'   there   am't  no   other 

men,   and   women   folks    mostly   likes   to 

have  some  kind  o'  men  folks  within  call." 

**What  horses  and  what   man  do  you 

mean  ?"  '^^  y^^-'  \,^^'y^:-^^-^u^  ri/^-yv, 

"Why,  Mr.  Jerves  he  wrote  to  me  to 
buy  a  carriage-horse  for  the  use  o'  the 
house,  and  a  pony  for  the  little  girl.  I 
hope  they'll  suit.  I  know  he's  a  good 
horse ;  and  they  say  the  man  I  got  knows 
his  business.  If  he  don't,  we'll  ship  him 
off,  and  get  another."  >,  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  v 

t.Mrs.  Bates  was  glad  when  bed-time 
came.  All  this  house,  and  garden,  and 
stable  —  she  was  thankful  she  had  nothing 
to  do  with  the  farm  —  were  too  much,  and 
she  was  almost  ready  to  cry  as  she  thought 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  task  she  had  un- 
dertaken.      ^ -^  -   ' 

Morning  tranquillized  her  somewhat. 
Having  lain  awake  nearly  all  night,  she 
slept  late,  and,  on  rising,  found  a  neat 
breakfast  ready  for  her,  the  house  cool  and 


EEDBANK.  269 

quiet,  and  nobody  about  to  annoy  her. 
She  saw  the  gardener  at  work  on  the  lawn, 
and  a  man  washing  carriages  at  the  stable, 
but  none  of  them  came  to  trouble  her. 
She  wrote  a  long  letter  to  her  friend  Mrs. 
Bluson,  and  apparently  might  have  re- 
mained undisturbed  all  day,  if  Helen  had 
not  discovered  the  pony.  After  that,  there 
was  no  peace  until  a  first  lesson  in  riding 
had  been  given  by  the  careful  groom. 

"The  other's  a  good  saddle-beast,  too, 
Shall  I  put  a  side-saddle  on  him  for  you, 
ma'am  ?  "  Mrs.  Bates  would  not  ride  that 
day,  but  afterwards  she  and  Helen  took 
many  a  ride  together,  v      vr^^lA^^«^ 

It  was  more  than  a  week  before  she  had 
got  quite  settled,  and  had  succeeded  in  re- 
ducing the  farmer^s  daily  supply  of  provi- 
sions below  what  would  be  needed  for  a 
week.  • 

Then  the  captain  and  his  family  came, 
and  the  horse  and  the  pony  IM  aft  the  ex- 
ercise they  wanted,  and  sometimes  more. 


270  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  nATER. 

Neither  gardener,  cook,  nor  groom  com- 
plained of  not  having  enough  to  do,  and 
the  house  was  noisy  enough,  for  the  cap- 
tain, when  quite  off  duty  and  let  loose,  was 
as  boyish  as  Bobby  himself.  ;  r  >    ^tj 

August  and  September  c-me  and  went, 
and  with  September  went  the  captain's 
party.  ■-  ^  -  \^'  ■•■:>?#-■ 

"  Come  again  next  summer."  ; 

"  Indeed  we  will  —  unless  we  ccme  at 
New  Years  and  stay  till  Christmas." 

Mrs.  BpMr  had  enough  to  do,  though 
she  foun(  the  care  of  the  establishment 
much  less  than  she  feared.  The  out-of- 
door  men  knew  their  business,  and  a  daily 
walk  through  stables,  gardens,  and  green- 
houses was  all  the  attention  they  required 
from  her.  In-doors,  after  she  had  once  or 
twice  "  sat  down  on "  the  cook,  she  had 
very  little  trouble.  Every  month  she  re- 
ceived a  little  packet  of  views  and  sketches 
from  Jerves,  all  carefully  marked  and 
labelled,  but  nc  other  new3.    She   .  as  not 


--rtfl.  ^ 


REDBANK.  271 

inclinpd  to  make  many  acquaintances,  but, 
after  Jerves's  local  agent  had  visited  her, 
and  reported  her  to  be  not  a  ^'house- 
keeper" at  all,  but  a  lady  of  education 
and  refinement,  and  had  sent  his  wife  and 
married  daughters  to  call  on  her,  she  .had 
all  the  company  she  wanted.  This  gentle- 
man was  a  lawyer,  a  large,  heavy  man,  a 
little  round-shouldered,  with  shaggy  eye- 
brows, and  a  fringe  of  white  hair  and 
beard  that  had  once  been  sandy.  He  had 
been  the  local  legal  and  business  agent  of 
the  Jerves  family  all  his  professional  life ; 
and  it  was  a  matter  of  great  concern  to 
him  now  in  his  old  age  what  would  become 
of  their  property  when  he  should  no  longer 
be  able  to  look  after  it.  His  greatest  satis- 
faction in  the  marriage  of  the  last  of  his 
daughters  w^s  that  he  thought  her  husband 
was  sharp  enough  and  honest  enough  to 
'^ucceed  him-  ^  .  .v. 

He  called  often  on  Mrs.  Bates  for  news 
of       xJernard,"   but,   beyond    the    regular 


% 


272  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

packages  of  views  and  sketches,  she  had 
none  to  give  him,  though,  by  means  of  these 
and  various  maps,  they  together  followed 
him  for  a  time  in  his  wanderings.  The  old 
map  expressed  his  disgust  and  impatience 
at  Jerves's  long  stay,  very  freely,  empha- 
sizing his  remarks  by  angry  thumps  of  his 
ivory-headed  cane.  ^^Why  don't  the  fel- 
low come  home?  What  on  earth  is  he 
rambling  round  away  out  there  for  ?  It  is 
quite  time  he  came  home,  and  married,  and 
settled  down.  I  am  out  of  patience  with 
him.  If  a  man  has  a  home,  he  ought  to 
stay  in  it."  !         , 

Whereat  Mrs.  Bates  suggested  that 
Mr.  Jerves  was  extremely  fond  of  travel. 
"What  if  he  is?  He's  travelled  enough. 
He  might  let  somebody  else  do  the  rest.  I 
am  going  to  write  to  him  to  come  home. 
I  want  to  see  him.  He'd  better  come 
back,  and  attend  to  his  own  affairs.  I  am 
getting  toe  old,  anyway .' V  .^.^^ 

If  the   truth  were   known,   the   lawyer 


REDBANK,  273 

was  privately  of  the  same  opmicn  as  Mrs« 
Bluson,  that  Jerves  not  only  ought  to  be 
married,  but  that  Mrs.  Bates  was  the  most 
suitable  woman  in  all  the  world  for  )iim.  f 
^  One  evening  towards  spring,  he  came  in 
in  great  trouble.  .      . 

f  Jerves  had  written  him  that  he  was 
about  going  on  a  long  and  somewhat  dan- 
gerous expedition,  and  wished  to  make 
some  alterations  in  his  will.  "  And  I  sup- 
pose I  must  tell  you,  Mrs.  Bates,  that  they 
relate  mostly  to  you,  and  that  you  need 
have  no  anxiety  about  your  future,  so  far 
as  money  is  concerned,  Bernard  wrote  me 
to  let  you  know  that  you  need  have  no 
concern  on  that  score.  The  rdiculous 
fellow!  I  wish  he'd  come  back.  Con- 
found iiim !  No,  I  don't  mean  that,  but 
I  want  to  see  him.  He's  sent  home  a 
great  lot  of  tiger-skins,  and  all  sorts  of 
thipgS;  that  nobody  has  any  use  for.  I 
wish  he'd  bring  his  own  skin  back.  What 
does  a  man   like   him  want  to  make  an 


274  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER, 

exploring  expedition  of  himself  for  ? "  and 
the  old  man  punched  a  hole  in  the  carpet 
in  his  excitement.  Mrs.  Bates's  eyes  were 
full  of  tears.  The  old  man  noticed  them, 
and,  laying  his  large  hand  gently  on  her 
shoulder,  said,  "  I  think  he  will  come  some 
day,  dear,  and  I  hope  it  will  be  soon,"  and 
he  went  away  with  tears  in  his  own  eyes 
also.  But  that  was  the  last  they  heard  of 
Bernard  Jerves  for  manv  a  month.        ^ 

Summer  and  winter,  and  summer  again, 
came  and  went,  and  still  no  news  of  him 
—  no  letters,  no  more  parcels  of  sketches. 
Curiosity  deepened  into  anxiety,  and  anx- 
iety grew  more  anxious.  ' 

Mrs.  Bates's  cheek  lost  something  of 
its  hloom,  the  old  man  grew  visibly  older. 
These  two  now  met  every  day,  to  know  if, 
by  any  chance,  the  other  had  any  news, 
though  both  knew  that  if  one  had  any  the 
other  would  have  it  very  quickly.  ? 

Jerves  and  Rollins  stayed  only  a  short 
time  in  Hong  Kong.     It  was  not  a  place 


EEDBANK,        ;^i|      g^  275 

of  much  attraction.  They  visited  Canton 
and  Shanghai,  and  every  accessible  part  of  - 
the  great  Chinese  Empire,  finding  endless 
interest  and  adventure.  Rollins  was  con- 
stantly getting  them  into  scrapes,  and  as 
constantly  getting  them  out.  His  energy 
and  resources  in  both  directions  were  inex- 
naustible.  He  learned  to  take  great 
delight  in  Jerves's  camera,  and  he  became 
the  photographer,  and  Jerves  the  artist  of  W 
their  expeditions.  From  China  *hey  went 
jfcp^,  Japan,  and  explored  that  wonderful 
and  interesting  country  well. 

Then  tliey  turned  back  again,  and,  not 
content  with  tourists'  routes,  Singapore, 
Penang,  Benares,  Bombay,  they  followed 
every  route  in  Northern  India  to  its  utmost 
limit,  and  beyond.  Well  armed  and 
equipped,  cool  shots,  hard  rders,  and  in- 
clined to  be  reckless  of  danger,  ready  for 
any  hunt  or  fray,  they  were  welcome 
guests  at  many  a  lonely  station,  where 
visitors  of  their  kind   were   few.     Hollins 


276  CRCIS^  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER.    .        # 

proved  a  born  geographer,  as  well  as  ex- 
plorer. That  a  mountain  seemed  inacces- 
sible, was  only  an  additional  reason  why  he 
should  take  the  altitude,  the  latitude,  and 
the  longitude,  of  its  highest  peak. 

They  joined  a  British  expedition  to  the 
borders  of  Thibet,  and,  returning  from 
that,  helped  to  make  up  a  hunting  party 
in  Central  India. 

It  was  of  this  long  and  eventful  jourroy 
that  no  news  reached  their  friends  at 
home,  simply  because  a  steamer  carrying 
the  mails  was  lost  at  sea.  All  their  views 
and  sketches,  and  all  their  records  of  a 
year's  adventures,  went  down  in  her.   ^ 

It  was  more  than  a  year  after  the  visit 
of  the  lawyer  to  Mrs.  Bates,  when  he  had 
first  read  her  secret,  a  secret  she  was  not 
ashamea  and  sometimes  hardly  sorry  to 
have  him  know,  that  the  steamer  from 
Capetown  for  Madeira  and  Southampton 
numbered  among  its  passengers  two  worn 
and  haggard  wretches,  whom  no  one  would 


^    ^    REDBANK.  r  277 

have  recognized  as  the  Jerves  and  Rollins 

(     ;o£  the  Ajax. 

:-  Wandering  away  among  the  Boers  of 
South  Africa,  they  had  been  severely 
"Wounded  by  savages,  and  Rollins  had 
barely  escaped  with  his  life.  It  was 
months  before  they  were  able  to  be  moved, 
and  months  again  before  the  slow,  painful, 
and  toilsome  conveyances  of  the  country 
brought  them  once  more  to  regions  of  civ- 
ilization. More  dead  than  alive,  they 
reached  the  steamer  which  an  hour  after- 
ward  was  under  way.  "  Til  do  what  I  can 
foT  them,"  said  the  ship's  surgeon,  "  but  I 
doubt  they  ever  see  Madeira,  let  alone 
Southampton."  Perhaps  tlie  thought  that 
they  were  homeward  bound  kept  them  up, 
-for  they  did  see  Madeira,  and  Southampton 

'^'^  also.      There   they  caught   a   steamer  for 

'New  York  by  almost  as  narrow  a  chance  as 

they  had  had  with  the  one  from  Capetown. 

Once  on  blue  water,  Rollins,  wKoseTTTe  had 

so  long  been  despaired  oi,  improved  rapidly ; 


278  CRUISE  OF  A    WOMAN  HATER. 

but  Jerves,  who,  at  Capetown,  was  the 
stronger  of  the  two,  rather  grew  weaker. 
His  only  wish  now  seemed  to  be  that  he 
might  see  Redbank  once  more.  ^    € 

It  was  Christmas  eve,  and  a  furious 
storm  was  raging.  Mrs.  Bates  was  sitting 
before  the  fire,  with  an  unopen  but  well- 
worn  book  in  her  lap.  Her  last  little  gift 
for  Helen  was  finished,  and  she  sat  listen- 
ing to  the  howling  of  the  wind,  and  think- 
ing of  the  Christmas  on  the  Ajax,  an3 
wondering  where  the  owner  ot  Redbank 
might  be  this  fearful  night.  Was  he  ex- 
posed to  its  fury,  or  was  he  now  sleeping 
in  the  sea  or  in  some  unknown  grave? 

Absorbed  in  her  thoughts  she  heard  no 
sound;  but,  feeling  cold  air  from  an 
opened  door,  she  turned.  The  face  she 
saw  had  scarcely  more  color  than  the  snow 
that  hung  about  it,  but  she  knew  it  at 
once.^- --'''"'■■  \  ,:'^  -'■■''- "-"'^^^uM^-'' 

I  ^^  Oh,  Mr.  Jerves !  Mr.  Jerves  1  Thank 
tJod !     Thank  God ! ''    -  -  -  ^     - 


■.■«■,■■  ■t"J^; 


REDBANK.  279 

"Yes,  Mrs.  Bates.  I  am  at  home  at 
last.  I  thought  I  should  never  reach  it. 
Let  me  sit  down.     I  am  weak." 

She  took  off  his  wet  wrappings,  and  set 
him  by  the  fire. 

"You  are  ill.  You  are  very  ill.  Thy 
did  you  not  send  for  me  ?  I  would  have 
come  to  you." 

V     "  Yes,  Mrs.  Bates.     I  have  been  very  ill. 
I  scarcely  hoped  to   see  Redbank  or  you 
f  again.     But  now  —  Helen,   I    have   come 
home  to  die." 

He   held   out   his   feeble   hands  to  her. 

She  took  them  in  both  her  strong  ones. 

-  She  had  realized  long  ago  that  all  this 

.  tender,  thoughtful  care  for  her  welfare  and 

\  -  happiness  was  the  care  of  one  who  loved 

her,  and  loved  her  well,  though  he  might 

.  never  say  it.     Now  that  he  had  called  her 

"Helen,"  and  held  out  his  hands  to  her, 

there  was  no  need  of  many  words. 

"After  all  this  dreadful  waiting,  that 
you  should  come  home  like  this !     But  you 


280 


CRUISE  OF  A   WOMAN  HATER. 


must  not  die  !  You  shall  not  die  !  God  is 
too  good ! "  .:. ..     ' 

She  rang  the  bell,  and  ordered  a  fire  in 
the  room  that  was  always  clean  and  ready 
for  him,  sent  off  the  groom  for  a  doctor, 
and  a  message,  with  the  scribbled  words, 
*'  He  has  come  "  to  the  lawyer.  Then  she 
had  him  put  to  bed,  and  sat  with  one  of 
his  hands  in  hers  until  he  slept.  Before  he 
fell  asleep,  he  said,  "  Helen,  I  was  afraid  I 
could  not  make  you  happy.*' 

^'I  shall  be  h  ppy  now,  when  you  are 
well  again."  ♦ 

He  did  not  die,  and  six  weeks  ago  I 
christened  their  daughter. 


THE   END* 


i-jk<f- 


Helps  t8  a  Happy  S 


OF  COURSE  you  will  make  a  summer  journey  to  some 
lovely  place  far  beyond  the  cities  and  their  reek  of 
smoke  and  dust;  send  your  bonds  to  the  safe-deposit  vault; 
double-bar  the  doors;  get  a  boarding-place  for  the  cat;  and 
buy  a  round-trip  ticket  to  Utopia.  To  find  out  where  Utopia 
is,  amid  vast  blue  mountains,  or  by  shore  of  sylvan  lake,  or 
alongside  the  resounding  sea  (according  as  your  individual 
taste  may  elect),  you  should  get  one  of  Ticknor's  American 
Quide-Books,  which  tell  all  about  the  summer  resorts  be- 
tween the  Hudson  River  and  Baffin's  Bay,  with  their  prices 
and  accommodations  and  attractions,  and  how  to  get  to  them, 
and,  in  general,  their  legends  and  poetry,  and  scenic  charms. 
The  railroad  companies  give  away  many  thousands  of  small 
pamphlets  about  their  routes,  but  these  are  not  without  sus- 
picion of  self-magnifying,  and  should  be  corrected  by  an 
unprejudiced,  unsubsidized,  accui^te,  and  honest  guide- 
book, whose  cost,  in  comparison  with  the  outlay  on  a  sum- 
mer's trip,  is  trivial,  while  its  hints  may  be  of  frequent  and 
great  value. 

Ticknor's  Goide-Books  are  thre^  in  number,  devoted 
i^^^The  White  Mountains,'*  '' New  England,''  and  ''The 
Maritime  Provinces,''  One  volume  is  for  the  peaks  and 
cascades,  lakes  and  ravines,  of  New  Hampshire ;  one  for  the 
grand  marine  scenery  and  quaint  cities  of  the  Canadian 
seaboard;  and  one  for  the  scenic  beauties  ar.d  i\.  nantic  an- 
tiquities of  New  England.  These  books  contain  scores  of 
maps;  vivid  descriptions  of  the  scenery,  history,  and  poetry 
of  each  locality;  lists  of  hotels  at  each  point,  with  their 


2  HELPS   TO  A   HAPPY  SUMMER. 

*► 
prices  and  locations;  accounts  of  routes  of  travel  by  sea  and 
land  ;  choice  quotations  from  hundreds  of  favorite  authors, 
referring  to  special  localities;  and  no  end  of  other  items,  to 
minister  to  the  comfort,  satisfaction,  and  enlightenment  of 
the  traveller.  The  volumes  are  bound  in  flexible  red  cloth, 
and  each  contains  from  400  to  500  pages. 

The  New-York  Tribune  indorses  these  works  in  the  fol- 
lowing unequivocal  language :  — 

"  The  Ticknor  Guide-Books  ai^  much  the  best  we  ever  had  in  this 
country,  and  they  can  challenge  comparison  with  *  Baedeker's,'  which 
are  the  best  in  Europe.  The  volume  devoted  to  the  White  Mountains  is 
full,  precise,  compact,  sensible,  and  honest." 

Be  sure  and  carry  with  you  a  few  good  books  wherewith 
to  while  away  the  tedium  of  rainy  days  or  long  evenings,  or 
to  drowsily  read  in  the  wind-swayed  hammock,  or  on  the 
shady  side  of  a  grassy  bank.  Odd  hours,  which  might  other- 
wise b»  possessed  by  gloomy  ennui,  may  thus  be  converted 
into  pleasant  and  fruitful  experiences.  But  a  wise  and  provi- 
dent traveller  will  not  depend  for  his  mental  recreation  upon 
the  casual  driftwood  of  printed  trash  to  be  found  in  Jaalam 
Centre  or  Wayback,  to  tempt  either  intellectual  dyspepsia, 
or  nightmare,  or  pyaemia.  He  will  select  with  care  and  good 
taste  his  little  bundle  of  books  from  the  treasures  of  the  city 
bookstores,  and  depart  in  much  joy  to  be  the  envied  of  his 
summer  neighbors.  Now  it  would  be  hard  to  find  in  any  col- 
lection a  better  and  brighter  group  of  novels  than  Ticknor's 
Paper  Series,  whose  tempting  titles  may  be  seen  on  the  cover 
of  this  book.  You  can  hardly  find  in  any  literature  nobler 
or  more  entrancing  novels  than  **  Guenn^^  or  '*il  Nameless 
Nohf^man.^*  ''  The  Story  of  Margwrei  Kent  ^'  was  the  most 
brilliant  novel  of  last  seasor  If  you  want  to  spend  some 
part  oi  that  rural  summer  ii  naming  of  the  vast  prairies 
of  ICansas,  get  Howe's  **  The  Story  of  a  Country  Town;** 
if  you  would  be  in  fancy  among  the  ecclssiastical  palaces 


HELPS   TO  A   HAPPY  SUMMER,  8 


of  Rome,  get  Henderson's  **  The  Prelate "  or  Wendell's 
**  The  Duchess  Emilia  ,*  "  if  the  sea-beaten  sands  of  Cape 
Cod  attract  you,  get  ^^  A  Reverend  Idol;^^  or  among  the 
Thousand  Islands,  be  sure  and  read  **  Geraldlne.^* 

Then  there  are  the  standard  and  recent  novels  of  the 
great  American  story- writers,  which  you  will  find  delight 
in  reading  now,  amid  the  peaceful  surroundings  of  summer 
rest :  Howells's  works  of  the  past  seven  years,  those  admi- 
rable pictures  of  our  American  life,  — "  The  Story  of  J  Has 
Lapham,^*  **  The  Minister's  Charge y'^  **  A  Modem  Instance," 
etc. ;  or  take  Julian  Hawthorne's  "  Beatrix  Randolph,^'  or 
"  Fortune's  Fool; "  or  Edgar  Fawcett's  "  The  House  at  High 
Bridge y^'  or  **  Confessions  of  Claud,**  or  **  Tinkling  Cymr 
hals:  "  or  Robert  Grant's  "  The  Knave  of  Hearts,' '  or 
*^  Romantic  Young  Lady,**  or  ^^  Frivolous  Girl;**  or  one  of 
Henry  James's  volumes  of  piquant  short  stories  ;  or  one 
of  Nora  Perry's  groups  of  dainty  love  stories;  or  Rose 
Terry  Cooke's  inimitable  dialect  stories  of  New-England 
life.  Then  there  is  Bynner's  noble  historical  romance 
of  colonial  Marblehead,  ^^  Agnes  Sun-iage;**  and  Barrett 
Wendell's  thrilling  American  novel,  **  RankeWs  Remains ; " 
and  that  lovely  Philadelphian  romance,  ^^Sons  and  Daughters,** 
by  the  author  of  ^^  The  Slory  of  Margaret  Rent;**  and 
"  Happy  Dodd"  Rose  Terry  Cooke's  tender  and  pathetic 
novel  of  New  England. 

You  of  course  intend  to  take  out  with  you  one  good 
solid,  mind-improving  book,  together  with  all  these  bright 
playtime  stories,  —  not  too  solid,  for  then  it  would  n't  be 
opened,  except  to  press  flowers  in;  but  at  once  instructive 
and  entertaining,  beneficial  and  attractive,  so  that  you  can 
remember  it  for  years  after  as  at  once  a  pleasure  and  a 
profit,  and  treasure  the  book  in  your  library  as  a  precious 
possession.  Now,  foremost  among  such  books  we  shall 
place   the   rich   and   delightful   recent  biographies,  —  that 


mmmm 


4  HELPS   TO  A    HAPPY  SUMMER. 

of  Nathaniel  Hawthonie  by  bis  sod,  and  tbat  of  Henry 
Wadsworth  Longfellow  by  his  brother  (the  latter  just  aug- 
menced  by  a  volume  of  *'  Final  Memorfcds  ").  In  a  similar 
vein  are  the  two  recent  volumes  of  Whipple's  works,  with 
their  entertaining  reminiscences  of  Agassiz,  Choate,  Motley, 
Webster,  etc. 

The  reading  of  books  of  travel  is  a  peculiarly  agreeable 
and  insidious  way  of  conveying  valuable  information  into 
the  mind,  while  it  fancies  that  it  is  only  being  amused. 
Within  a  year  there  have  appeared  three  sumptuous  and 
authoritative  illustrated  books  on  three  very  interesting  for- 
eign cc   n tries :   "  Persia  and   the  Persians,^ ^  by  the   Hon. 

5  G.  W.  Benjamin,  late  United  States  Minister  at  Teheran; 
**  Japanese  Homes,^^  by  Prof.  E.  S.  Morse,  late  of  Tokio 
University,  Japan;  and  **  Choson:  The  Land  of  the  Morning 
CcUniy^^  a  vivid  picture  of  Korea,  by  Percival  Lowell,  late 
Foreign  Secretary  of  the  Kores.n  Embassy.  If  you  visit 
the  Yankee  sea-coast  you  will  enjoy  Mrs.  Austin's  ^^  Nantucket 
Scraps;^*  if  in  the  northern  wilderness,  Hubbard^s  **  Woods 
and  Lakes  of  Maine ;^^  if  down  in  the  Nova  Scotia  of 
Evangeline  and  Sam  Slick,  Miss  Chase's  illustrated  **  Over 
the  Border  J'*  Or  you  can  take  Maturin  M.  Ballou's  capital 
new  book  of  Russian  and  Scandinavian  travels,  **i)ti« 
JVbrM,"  or  the  curious  and  fascinating  ^''Genius  in  Sunshine 
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PERSIA  AND  THE  PERSIANS.  By  Hox.  S.  G.  W.  Ben- 
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JAPANESE  HOMES  and  their  Surroundings.  By 
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MOULTON. 

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novel  by  the  same  author,  *  Sons  and  Daughters,'  which  is  enjoying  sncli  a 
wonderful  run  this  winter.  From  internal  evidence  it  is  believed  that  the  two 
novels  were  written  by  Ellen  Olney  Kirk,  the  author  also  of  the  brilliant  and 
fascinating  novels,  'A  Lesson  in  Love*  and  'A  Midsummer  Madness,'  which 
have  all  the  graphic,  picturesque,  and  dramatic  traiU  of  the  first-named  stories." 
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A  LESSON  IN  LOVE. 

1  vol.    16mo.    $1.00.    Jd  paper  covers,  50  cents. 

A  brilliant  story  of  modem  society  in  New  York,  with  admirable  character, 
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